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d.u.c.h.eSS.
[_Plaintively._] My doctor insists--for my nerves.
MRS. EDEN.
[_Blowing rings._] I love smoking. Such a bore, because women are rather dropping it. [_Examining her cigarette._] What _are_ these?
d.u.c.h.eSS
I forget.
MRS. EDEN.
I see--Argyropulos.
[_There is a knock at the door._ SOPHY _goes to the door and opens it slightly; a note is handed to her._
SOPHY.
[_Looking at the note._] Oh, thanks. [_Closing the door._] I beg your pardon, your Grace--it's for me.
[_She returns to the dressing-table, reading the note._
MRS. EDEN.
[_Jestingly._] Ah, Sophy! you must encourage no more sweethearts now, remember.
SOPHY.
This is from _him_, Mrs. Eden--from Mr. Valma, saying good-night. He's gone to bed.
MRS. EDEN.
Good gracious! how do _you_ know?
SOPHY.
Mrs. Gregory, the housekeeper, has allowed him to sleep here to-night, so that we may go back together in the morning.
MRS. EDEN.
Ah, yes.
d.u.c.h.eSS.
[_Taking off her bracelets._] My jewel-case, Sophy.
[SOPHY _puts the note to her lips, slips it into the bodice of her dress, and re-enters the bedroom._
MRS. EDEN.
[_To the_ d.u.c.h.eSS.] By-the-by, what _did_ Valma see in your hand, d.u.c.h.ess, after dinner? Why wouldn't you tell us?
d.u.c.h.eSS.
I was too vexed at the moment. [_With downcast eyes._] He professed to discover that a number of men are in love with me.
MRS. EDEN.
Yes, but what made you angry?
d.u.c.h.eSS.
Why, _that_.
MRS. EDEN.
That!
d.u.c.h.eSS.
They were shocking words to listen to, even when spoken by a mere fortune-teller. And you--why did _you_ not confide to us the result of Mr. Valma's reading of your palm?
[SOPHY _comes from the bedroom carrying a jewel-case, which she deposits upon the dressing-table._
MRS. EDEN.
I was in a rage too. Ha! there's only _one_ man in love with _me_, it appears.
d.u.c.h.eSS.
[_With a shudder._] One is sufficiently dreadful.
MRS. EDEN.
Horrid! [_Making a_ moue.] It's Jack--my husband!
d.u.c.h.eSS.
[_Reprovingly._] Hush, dear Mrs. Eden! Sophy--[SOPHY _comes to the_ d.u.c.h.eSS. _Languidly._] I shall read for half-an-hour before attempting to sleep. Put me into something loose.
SOPHY.
Yes, your Grace.
[SOPHY _again retires to the bedroom._
MRS. EDEN.
