DEX. Thank you, Mr. Piffin, thank you. (Turning round.) Always be affable with your inferiors—never know when you may want ‘em.
CLARA. (By window, looking out.) Do you come across many of that sort? (Comes down r. of table R.)
DEX. Ah, you beast—you vixen. I wonder you don’t cut yourself with that tongue of yours.
CLARA. (Turning round with a hard laugh. At fireplace R.) It must be pretty sharp if it goes through your skin.
DEX. Ah, you damned—
(Enter Allen l. He has on slippers and a smoking coat).
ALLEN. (Crossing.) Don’t ’ee look at us too closely. I bean’t properly dressed yet.
CLARA. (r.c. turns head away.) I don’t think we had better look at you at all under those circumstances, Mr. Rollitt. (Laughs.)
ALLEN. (Laughs.) Oh, I be covered up all right everywhere. I merely meant as I wasn’t up to fashion plate standard. (Crossing c.) And how be Colonel Dexter? (Shaking hands.)
DEX. (l.) Jolly, my boy—and how’s yourself?