SIR F. (fiercely to COLONEL). You needn’t be insulting by associating Lady Fritterly with that paltry amount of haberdashery!
COL. (feeling his pulse). I shall be in a raging fever presently! (two more pills). What’s to be done? (To VALLANCE.) Recollect you’ve got to ascertain when the next train starts for the Sandwich Islands!
ARTH. Hang it, Sir Felix! can’t you suggest something? I look to you, with your extravagant devices, to extricate me!
COL. (to SIR F.). Yes, sir! We insist on your extricating us from your extravagant devices!
SIR F. Well, I confess I’ve made a slight mistake this time, but all isn’t lost. Lady Fritterly will be here directly, when I flatter myself she’ll hear something to her advantage—(looking off at C.) Here comes Myrtle!—couldn’t be better! Now then, hide yourselves—both of you!
ARTH. Certainly not!
COL. Certainly not!
ARTH. Another of your infernal schemes! If this fails, I really shall do something desperate! (During this SIR FELIX has been edging him up towards curtains, and at last pushes him behind them at R.)
COL. (in a helpless tone). My system won’t survive this sort of thing! I’m sure it won’t.