DE W. What delight you must have felt in restoring him to his weeping wife, and those five small children!
WHITE. Wife! children! Oh! ah! I believe I did use the expression.
DE W. But there’s a further pleasure in store for you. You know I always follow the dictates of my heart. Well—well, my heart told me that society owed that poor persecuted being a reparation, and was bound to declare that he had not forfeited his social position. In a word, sir, I’ve invited him to my ball this evening.
WHITE. (rises) Here? To your house? A fellow with the taint of the dock fresh upon him!
DE W. A taint that he did not merit—a taint that you have so nobly removed. (rises)
WHITE. (aside) Oh, this is an old fool!
Enter AGATHA, C., and down, L.
AGATHA. (L.) Oh, papa, they are nearly all assembled in the other room.
DE W. (C.) Come along then—come along, that I may introduce you as my son-in-law. Come, defender of persecuted innocence!
WHITE. (to AGATHA) Mind the first set—the Lancers—the——