Loveday.
(Panting but quietly.) That man, that man there!
(Points at Varlie, who is now in the corner between the footlights, the piano, and the Minister’s group. Very unostentatiously he digs the jade piece into the earth of pot and has barely covered it by this time.)
Hold him, Gordon, hold him.
(Gordon literally hurls himself on Varlie and, before he has time to turn, has his two arms pinned from behind. The two men struggle. The Minister looks bewildered. Hearing the struggle the evening-dress-clad detective near the curtains comes forward hurriedly and helps Gordon. They succeed in holding Varlie.)
Duchess.
For God’s sake don’t have a scene in public.
(She runs across room and rings repeatedly. Maid comes in by door right.)
Duchess.
(To Maid.) Draw those curtains instantly and stand by them. Don’t let anyone in, not anyone unless I tell you.