Rosa. (Pretending offense.) No nonsense, please! The new woman dislikes the word slave. On your honor, do you promise silence?
Blake. (Bowing.) I do!
Rosa. For your own sake, too!
Blake. I must preserve my reputation. I shall be silent as the grave.
Rosa. (Aside.) Such lovely manners! Now go, please.
Enter Mary L., she starts and coughs.
Rosa. (To Blake.) Oh, please go at once! (Exit Blake, hastily, R.) Mary, you know our rules! This is an accident. He came to see about the gas. (She gives Mary a coin.) Can I rely on you?
Mary. Forever, Miss Lightfoot.
Rosa. Thank you! (Exit R.)
Mary. Well, if there aint trouble brewin’ here, my name isn’t Mary Smilax. First the president making eyes at him, and bribin’ me, and then the secretary. And he’s just lovely, too. (Hears noise.) Oh, there’s the iceman!