Dunn R. as if in great worry, as Niobe rises, moving up C.
Nio. (turning back) I fear I don’t know how to dress myself.
Dunn. Oh, well, I can’t! You must try, try! up the stairs there—on the right—first door when you reach the top.
Nio. Petramos! All my will I’ll yield to thine,
Do thou but clear thy brow of fretfulness.
Thy anger, linked with fury of the gods
I could not bear! I could not bear!
Niobe exits weeping up stairs C. R., the footlights up through this scene, to assist the comedy, now low again.
Dunn. (staggered—sits end of couch—a pause) What an uncompleted idiot I am. My wife will recognize her clothes—(running to stairs, sees trunk which he secures and brings down stage) The Governess’s trunk! If my keys will only fit it, no, no! They never do—Yes—that’s lucky! (raising lid of trunk and closing it again) How clever you thought yourself, Peter Amos Dunn, when you suggested to yourself bringing that d——d Statue into the house. It isn’t there! It isn’t there! (closes screen—looks round—straightens room—picks up drapery, etc.; crosses to mirror, re-arranges himself, tie, smooths hair, goes down L. of table and pours himself a drink, hand shakes. He cannot get it to his mouth; sops his handkerchief and putting it to his brow, crosses and sits on trunk. Loud knock at door; Dunn jumping up; shoulders trunk and rushes upstairs)
Knocking; Mary crosses R. to L.; Innings then enters, Mary following L. C.
Inn. Not back yet, eh?
Mary. No Sir! (going down L. to lamp)