Page:Heartbreak House, Great Catherine, and Playlets of the War.djvu/332

 noise]. Sh-sh-sh- sh-sh!!! ''[Augustus, with a shrug, goes up the middle of the room. The lady resumes her conversation with the telephone.]'' What?...Oh yes: I'm coming up by the 1.35: why not have tea with me at Rumpelmeister's?...Rum-pel-meister's. You know: they call it Robinson's now...Right. Ta ta. [She hangs up the receiver, and is passing round the table on her way towards the door when she is confronted by Augustus.]

AUGUSTUS. Madam, I consider your conduct most unpatriotic. You make bets and abuse the confidence of the hardworked officials who are doing their bit for their country whilst our gallant fellows are perishing in the trenches&mdash;

THE LADY. Oh, the gallant fellows are not all in the trenches, Augustus. Some of them have come home for a few days' hard-earned leave; and I am sure you won't grudge them a little fun at your expense.

THE CLERK. Hear! hear!

AUGUSTUS.[amiably]. Ah, well! For my country's sake&mdash;!