Florence. [Beyond the flats] There is, my dear boy,—for lots of people——
Mrs. Pampinelli. Why, my dear, didn’t you hear?—about him falling downstairs last night?
Mrs. Sheppard. Oh, not really!
Mrs. Pampinelli. [Coming towards her] He fell almost the entire flight.
Mrs. Sheppard. Oh, dear me!
Mrs. Pampinelli. Poor Paula’s terribly upset.
Mrs. Sheppard. What was he doing, coming down the stairs?
Mrs. Pampinelli. No, he was watching our rehearsal. You know, we held the final rehearsal at Paula’s house last night—we couldn’t get this place.
Mrs. Sheppard. [Solicitously] Well, did he break any bones, Betty?
Mrs. Pampinelli. No,—Doctor Wentworth said—he was unconscious before he hit the floor. He said the fall was the result of a collapse; and that he would have fallen no matter where he had been. Unfortunately, he just happened to be on the stairs. [She turns back again to the left door.]