Mrs. Pampinelli. [Becoming desperate] Paula! [Paula gives her a nervous glance.] Will one of you go farther in! Mr. Twiller!
Twiller. [Addressing Florence] Have you convinced yourselves? [He gives Mrs. Pampinelli an irritated look over his left shoulder.]
Florence. That there has been a mistake?
Mrs. Pampinelli. Go farther in, one of you! [Twiller gives her another look, then speaks to Florence.]
Twiller. Yes! [Mrs. Pampinelli can contain herself no longer, so, picking up her skirt, and holding her hand against the left side of her head, she darts across the open door, to the left, and speaks to them around the edge of the door. Mrs. Fell, taking advantage of the circumstance of Mrs. Pampinelli’s crossing, tiptoes up to Twiller and strikes him on the left arm, quite viciously, with the rolled manuscript. As a polite remonstrance, he shakes his left hand and foot at her. But, she is not dismayed, and repeats the attack, even more viciously. Then he turns and glares at her, and she turns away towards the right, desperately.]
Florence. A great mistake.
Mrs. Ritter. Disappointed? Because, you know, we can invent a scandal, if you insist.
Mrs. Fell. Oh, what a man! What a man!
Florence and Mrs. Pampinelli, together.
Florence. I’m afraid my presence here would be a bit incongruous, even for that.
Mrs. Pampinelli. Go farther in, Mr. Twiller, don’t both of you stand wedged in the doorway that way, it looks dreadful!
Twiller. [Raising his right arm and resting his hand against the jamb of the door, completely cutting off Mrs. Ritter’s view of Florence] That’s the rub. [Mrs. Ritter stands on her tiptoes to try and see over his arm, but being unsuccessful in this effort, stoops a bit, and tries to look under his arm.]