The Second Mrs. Tanqueray - LightNovelsOnl.com
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AUBREY.
Doctor, find a comfortable chair; Frank, you too. As we're going to turn out by-and-by, let me scribble a couple of notes now while I think of them.
MISQUITH _and_ JAYNE.
Certainly--yes, yes.
AUBREY.
It might slip my memory when I get back.
[AUBREY _sits at a writing-table at the other end of the room, and writes._
JAYNE.
[_To_ MISQUITH, _in a whisper._] Frank---- [MISQUITH _quietly leaves his chair and sits nearer to Jayne._] What is all this? Simply a morbid crank of Aubrey's with regard to ante-nuptial acquaintances?
MISQUITH.
H'm! Did you notice _one_ expression he used?
JAYNE.
Let me think----
MISQUITH.
"My marriage is not even the conventional sort of marriage likely to satisfy society."
JAYNE.
Bless me, yes! What does that suggest?
MISQUITH.
That he has a particular rather than a general reason for antic.i.p.ating estrangement from his friends, I'm afraid.
JAYNE.
A horrible _mesalliance_! A dairymaid who has given him a gla.s.s of milk during a day's hunting, or a little anaemic shopgirl! Frank, I'm utterly wretched!
MISQUITH.
My dear Jayne, speaking in absolute confidence, I have never been more profoundly depressed in my life.
MORSE _enters._
MORSE.
[_Announcing_] Mr. Drummle.
[CAYLEY DRUMMLE _enters briskly. He is a neat little man of about five-and-forty, in manner bright, airy, debonair, but with an undercurrent of seriousness._
[MORSE _retires._
DRUMMLE.
I'm in disgrace; n.o.body realises that more thoroughly than I do.
Where's my host?
AUBREY.
[_Who has risen._] Cayley.
DRUMMLE.
[_Shaking hands with him._] Don't speak to me till I have tendered my explanation. A harsh word from anybody would unman me.
[MISQUITH _and_ JAYNE _shake hands with_ DRUMMLE.
AUBREY.
Have you dined?
DRUMMLE.
No--unless you call a bit of fish, a cutlet, and a pancake dining.
AUBREY.
Cayley, this is disgraceful.
JAYNE.
Fish, a cutlet, and a pancake will require a great deal of explanation.
MISQUITH.
Especially the pancake. My dear friend, your case looks miserably weak.
DRUMMLE.
Hear me! hear me!
JAYNE.
Now then!
MISQUITH.
