Shelmerdene: He would just be a man I had dined with once.

(A Silence.)

The Voice: I am sorry to have disturbed you. Good-night.

Shelmerdene: Come back again, but——

The Voice: Good-night, Shelmerdene.

Shelmerdene:—but sweetly, Gerald! Oh, my dear, sweetly!

The Voice: (Very faintly) Good-bye, Shelmerdene.

(There is a soft click at the other end.)

Shelmerdene: Good-bye, you ass!

Then Foster came in, with an anxious face.