Lord Augustus. You want to make her out a wicked woman. She is not!

Cecil Graham. Oh! Wicked women bother one. Good women bore one. That is the only difference between them.

Lord Augustus. [Puffing a cigar.] Mrs. Erlynne has a future before her.

Dumby. Mrs. Erlynne has a past before her.

Lord Augustus. I prefer women with a past. They’re always so demmed amusing to talk to.

Cecil Graham. Well, you’ll have lots of topics of conversation with her, Tuppy. [Rising and going to him.]

Lord Augustus. You’re getting annoying, dear-boy; you’re getting demmed annoying.

Cecil Graham. [Puts his hands on his shoulders.] Now, Tuppy, you’ve lost your figure and you’ve lost your character. Don’t lose your temper; you have only got one.

Lord Augustus. My dear boy, if I wasn’t the most good-natured man in London—

Cecil Graham. We’d treat you with more respect, wouldn’t we, Tuppy? [Strolls away.]