What d'you mean? What have I done?
[Without answering Lady Frederick takes
the letters. Paradine is watching her
anxiously. She goes up to the stove and
throws them in one by one.
Lady Mereston.
What on earth is she doing?
Lady Frederick.
I have some letters here which would ruin the happiness of a very worthless woman I know. I'm burning them so that I may never have the temptation to use them.
Fouldes.
I never saw anything so melodramatic.
Lady Frederick.
Hold your tongue, Paradine. [Turning to Mereston.] My dear Charlie, I came to Monte Carlo to be amused. Your mother has persecuted me incessantly. Your uncle—is too well-bred to talk to his servants as he has talked to me. I've been pestered in one way and another, and insulted till my blood boiled, because apparently they're afraid you may want to marry me. I'm sick and tired of it. I'm not used to treatment of this sort; my patience is quite exhausted. And since you are the cause of the whole thing I have an obvious remedy. I would much rather not have anything more to do with you. If we meet one another in the street you need not trouble to look my way because I shall cut you dead.