MAGGIE. Not before her. Please go away, Comtesse.
COMTESSE. Every word you say makes me more determined to remain.
MAGGIE. It will hurt you, John. [Distressed] Don’t read it; tear it up.
JOHN. You make me very curious, Maggie. And yet I don’t see what can be in it.
COMTESSE. But you feel a little nervous? Give ME the dagger.
MAGGIE [quickly]. No. [But the COMTESSE has already got it.]
COMTESSE. May I? [She must have thought they said Yes, for she opens the letter. She shares its contents with them.] ‘Dearest John, It is at my request that the Comtesse is having Lady Sybil at the cottage at the same time as yourself.’
JOHN. What?
COMTESSE. Yes, she begged me to invite you together.
JOHN. But why?