Pil. (rises) I think otherwise. (Dorvaston surprised) I shall be very happy to hear anything you care to tell me. Appearances are often misleading.
Miss P. But, Audley, surely——
Pil. Hannah, the matter has now been submitted to my judgment. I shall not approach it in a spirit of carping doubt. If our dear friend can give us his personal assurance that the whole thing was—a—little joke for instance——
Miss P. A little joke!
Pil. If he could tell us that in concealing himself in the—er—broom cupboard, he had an idea of jumping out suddenly and startling somebody by saying "Boo"—not you particularly—but Cook, or Keziah, or myself——
Miss P. You? What should you be doing in the kitchen?
Pil. No—that is so; but still, though I deprecate practical joking as a rule, I should consider the explanation as not being without a certain measure of antecedent plausibility.
Miss P. You appear to be putting words into Captain Dorvaston's mouth.
Pil. No, pardon me, I merely say that such a line of defence would carry conviction to an unbiased mind. The army is proverbially a light-hearted profession.
Dor. Well, sir, I'm afraid I can't exactly say that.