The Big Drum - LightNovelsOnl.com
You're reading novel online at LightNovelsOnl.com. Please use the follow button to get notifications about your favorite novels and its latest chapters so you can come back anytime and won't miss anything.
ROOPE.
Ah, yes; I'm to be in Lady Freddy Hoyle's Plantagenet group. I'm a knight in attendance on King John.
GREEN.
I had a short private chat with the Baroness, and followed her into the drawing-room. They were still at it when I sneaked out at a side door, and heah I am.
ROOPE.
Extraordinary! Hey, Phil?
PHILIP.
[_Leaning against the chair by the writing-table, dryly._] Most interesting.
GREEN.
[_To_ PHILIP, _rising._] I lunch with Roope--[_to_ ROOPE] you'll have to let me off at three, Robbie--and then my grind begins again.
ROOPE.
[_Throwing up his hands in admiration._] Oh!
GREEN.
Horse Show, two musical parties--Lady G.o.dalming's and Mrs. Reggie Mosenstein's; then home and more dictation to my secretary. Dine with Sir Patrick and Lady Logan at the Carlton, and then to the Opera with my spy-gla.s.s. From Covent Garden I dash down to Fleet Street, write my late stuff, and my day's done--unless I've strength left for Lady Ronaldshaw's dance and a crush at Mrs. Hume-Cutler's.
ROOPE.
[_Repeating his former action._] Oh! Oh!
[NOYES _reappears._
NOYES.
Mrs. Walter Quebec.
[MRS. WALTER QUEBEC _enters and_ NOYES _withdraws._
ROOPE.
[_Taking_ MRS. QUEBEC's _hand._] My dear Mrs. Wally, how _are_ you?
MRS. QUEBEC.
[_A bright, energetic, fairly young lady._] How'r you, Robbie? Walter is so grieved; he's lunching at the Auto with Tony Baxter. He did try to wriggle out of it--[_Discovering_ GREEN _and going to him with her hand extended._] Oh, I _am_ glad! You're just the man I'm dying to see.
GREEN.
[_Kissing her hand._] Haw----!
MRS. QUEBEC.
Lady Skewes and I are getting up a concert in aid of the poor sufferers from the earthquake in--what's the name of the place?--I forget--Lady Skewes knows it--and we want you to say a lot about us in your darling paper. Only distinguished amateurs; that's where the novelty comes in.
Lady Skewes is going to play the violin, if she can pull herself together--she hasn't played for centuries--[_seeing_ PHILIP, _advancing, and shaking hands with him casually_] how d'ye do?--[_to_ GREEN] and _I've_ promised to sing.
GREEN.
Splendid.
ROOPE.
But how captivating!
MRS. QUEBEC.
[_To_ GREEN.] I've sung so seldom since my marriage, and they've had _such_ a difficulty to lure me out of my tiny wee sh.e.l.l. Would you mind dwelling on that a little?
GREEN.
Of course not; anything I can do, deah lady----
MRS. QUEBEC.
That's too utterly sweet of you. You shall have full particulars to-morrow. I wouldn't bother you, but it's charity, isn't it? Oh, and there's something else I want you to be kind over----!
[NOYES _returns._
NOYES.
Mrs. G.o.dfrey Anslow.
[_The_ HON. MRS. G.o.dFREY ANSLOW _enters and_ NOYES _goes out again._
MRS. ANSLOW.
[_A tall, languis.h.i.+ng woman with a toneless drawl--to_ ROOPE.] Am I late?
ROOPE.
[_Pressing her hand._] Not a second, my _very_ dear friend.
MRS. ANSLOW.
Can't help it if I am. My car got smashed up last week in Roehampton Lane, and the motor people have lent me the original ark, on wheels.
[MRS. QUEBEC _comes to her._] Hullo, Esme!
MRS. QUEBEC.
