LUKYN.

[_Looking up suddenly._] Eh?

AGATHA POSKET.

There are no plates.

LUKYN.

No plates? No plates? It's my fault. Pardon me. Where are the plates?

[_VALE, still invisible, stretches out his hand through the curtain, takes up the plates and presents them to LUKYN, who recoils._

VALE.

[_In a whisper._] Here are the plates. Look sharp, Lukyn.

LUKYN.

Vale! safe and sound! [_He takes the plates, then grasps VALE'S extended hand._] Bless you, old fellow. I'm myself again. [_Going gaily to the table with the plates._] My dear ladies, I blush--I positively blush--I am the worst host in the world.

VALE.

[_To himself._] By Jove, that's true.

AGATHA POSKET.

Not at all--not at all.

LUKYN.

[_Helping the ladies._] I'll make amends, by George! You may have noticed I've been confoundedly out of sorts. That's my temperament-- now up, now down. I've just taken a turn, ha, ha! Oysters.

[_Handing plate to AGATHA POSKET._

AGATHA POSKET.

Thank you.

LUKYN.

Ah! I've pa.s.sed many a happy hour in this room. The present is not the least happy.

CHARLOTTE.

[_Trying to attract his attention._] Ahem! Ahem!

LUKYN.

[_Gazing up at the ceiling._] My first visit to the Hotel des Princes was in the year--the year--let me think.

CHARLOTTE.

[_Whispering to AGATHA POSKET._] Isn't he going to help me?

LUKYN.

Was it in '55?

AGATHA POSKET.

[_Quickly pa.s.sing her plate over to CHARLOTTE._] I'm not hungry.

CHARLOTTE.

You're a dear.

LUKYN.

[_Emphatically._] It _was_ in '55. I'm forgetful again--pardon me.

[_He hands plate of oysters to CHARLOTTE, and is surprised to find her eating vigorously._] Why, I thought I---- [_To AGATHA POSKET._] My dear madam, a thousand apologies. [_He helps her and then himself._]

Pah! they're cold--icy--you could skate on 'em. There's a dish of something else over there.

[_He goes to the sideboard; VALE'S hand is again stretched forth with the other covered dish._

VALE.

I say, Lukyn.

LUKYN.

[_Taking the dish._] Thanks, old fellow. [_He returns to the table and lifts the cover._] Soles--they look tempting. If there are only some lemons! Surely they are not so brutal as to have forgotten the lemons.

Where are they? [_He returns to the sideboard._] Where are they? [_In an undertone to VALE._] Have you seen any lemons?

AGATHA POSKET.

Pray, think less of us, Colonel Lukyn. Let me take care of you.

LUKYN.

You're very kind. I wish you would let me ring for some lemons.

[_VALE'S hand comes as before from behind the curtain to the sideboard, finds the dish of lemons, and holds it out at arm's length._

VALE.

[_In a whisper._] Lemons.