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am shocked to think of how we have treated you。
OCTAVIUS。 ＇awkwardly＇ I beg your pardon； Violet。 I can say no
more。
MISS RAMSDEN。 ＇still loth to surrender＇ Of course what you say
puts a very different complexion on the matter。 All the same； I
owe it to myself
VIOLET。 ＇cutting her short＇ You owe me an apology； Miss Ramsden：
that's what you owe both to yourself and to me。 If you were a
married woman you would not like sitting in the housekeeper's
room and being treated like a naughty child by young girls and
old ladies without any serious duties and responsibilities。
TANNER。 Don't hit us when we're down； Violet。 We seem to have
made fools of ourselves； but really it was you who made fools of
us。
VIOLET。 It was no business of yours； Jack； in any case。
TANNER。 No business of mine！ Why； Ramsden as good as accused me
of being the unknown gentleman。
Ramsden makes a frantic demonstration； but Violet's cool keen
anger extinguishes it。
VIOLET。 You！ Oh； how infamous！ how abominable！ How disgracefully
you have all been talking about me！ If my husband knew it he
would never let me speak to any of you again。 ＇To Ramsden＇ I
think you might have spared me； at least。
RAMSDEN。 But I assure you I neverat least it is a monstrous
perversion of something I said that
MISS RAMSDEN。 You needn't apologize； Roebuck。 She brought it all
on herself。 It is for her to apologize for having deceived us。
VIOLET。 I can make allowances for you； Miss Ramsden： you cannot
understand how I feel on this subject though I should have
expected rather better taste from people of greater experience。
However； I quite feel that you have all placed yourselves in a
very painful position； and the most truly considerate thing for
me to do is to go at once。 Good morning。
She goes； leaving them staring。
Miss RAMSDEN。 Well； I must say！
RAMSDEN。 ＇plaintively＇ I don't think she is quite fair to us。
TANNER。 You must cower before the wedding ring like the rest of
us； Ramsden。 The cup of our ignominy is full。
Act II
On the carriage drive in the park of a country house near
Richmond a motor car has broken down。 It stands in front of a
clump of trees round which the drive sweeps to the house； which
is partly visible through them： indeed Tanner； standing in the
drive with the car on his right hand； could get an unobstructed
view of the west corner of the house on his left were he not far
too much interested in a pair of supine legs in blue serge
trousers which protrude from beneath the machine。 He is watching
them intently with bent back and hands supported on his knees。
His leathern overcoat and peaked cap proclaim him one of the
dismounted passengers。
THE LEGS。 Aha！ I got him。
TANNER。 All right now？
THE LEGS。 All right now。
Tanner stoops and takes the legs by the ankles； drawing their
owner forth like a wheelbarrow； walking on his hands； with a
hammer in his mouth。 He is a young man in a neat suit of blue
serge； clean shaven； dark eyed； square fingered； with short well
brushed black hair and rather irregular sceptically turned
eyebrows。 When he is manipulating the car his movements are swift
and sudden； yet attentive and deliberate。 With Tanner and
Tanner's friends his manner is not in the least deferential； but
cool and reticent； keeping them quite effectually at a distance
whilst giving them no excuse for complaining of him。 Nevertheless
he has a vigilant eye on them always； and that； too； rather
cynically； like a man who knows the world well from its seamy
side。 He speaks slowly and with a touch of sarcasm； and as he
does not at all affect the gentleman in his speech； it may be
inferred that his smart appearance is a mark of respect to
himself and his own class； not to that which employs him。
He now gets into the car to test his machinery and put his cap
and overcoat on again。 Tanner takes off his leather overcoat and
pitches it into the car。 The chauffeur （or automobilist or
motoreer or whatever England may presently decide to call him）
looks round inquiringly in the act of stowing away his hammer。
THE CHAUFFEUR。 Had enough of it； eh？
TANNER。 I may as well walk to the house and stretch my legs and
calm my nerves a little。 ＇Looking at his watch＇ I suppose you
know that we have come from Hyde Park Corner to Richmond in
twenty…one minutes。
THE CHAUFFEUR。 I'd have done it under fifteen if I'd had a clear
road all the way。
TANNER。 Why do you do it？ Is it for love of sport or for the fun
of terrifying your unfortunate employer？
THE CHAUFFEUR。 What are you afraid of？
TANNER。 The police； and breaking my neck。
THE CHAUFFEUR。 Well； if you like easy going； you can take a bus；
you know。 It's cheaper。 You pay me to save your time and give you
the value of your thousand pound car。 ＇He sits down calmly＇。
TANNER。 I am the slave of that car and of you too。 I dream of the
accursed thing at night。
THE CHAUFFEUR。 You'll get over that。 If you're going up to the
house； may I ask how long you're goin to stay there？ Because if
you mean to put in the whole morning talkin to the ladies； I'11
put the car in the stables and make myself comfortable。 If not；
I'll keep the car on the go about here til you come。
TANNER。 Better wait here。 We shan't be long。 There's a young
American gentleman； a Mr Malone； who is driving Mr Robinson down
in his new American steam car。
THE CHAUFFEUR。 ＇springing up and coming hastily out of the car to
Tanner＇ American steam car！ Wot！ racin us down from London！
TANNER。 Perhaps they're here already。
THE CHAUFFEUR。 If I'd known it！ ＇with deep reproach＇ Why didn't
you tell me； Mr Tanner？
TANNER。 Because I've been told that this car is capable of 84
miles an hour； and I already know what YOU are capable of when
there is a rival car on the road。 No； Henry： there are things it
is not good for you to know； and this was one of them。 However；
cheer up： we are going to have a day after your own heart。 The
American is to take Mr Robinson and his sister and Miss
Whitefield。 We are to take Miss Rhoda。
THE CHAUFFEUR。 ＇consoled； and musing on another matter＇ That's
Miss Whitefield's sister； isn't it？
TANNER。 Yes。
THE CHAUFFEUR。 And Miss Whitefield herself is goin in the other
car？ Not with you？
TANNER。 Why the devil should she come with me？ Mr Robinson will
be in the other car。 ＇The Chauffeur looks at Tanner with cool
incredulity； and turns to the car； whistling a popular air softly
to himself。 Tanner； a little annoyed； is about to pursue the
subject when he hears the footsteps of Octavius on the gravel。
Octavius is coming from the house； dressed for motoring； but
without his overcoat＇。 We've lost the race； thank Heaven： here's
Mr Robinson。 Well； Tavy； is the steam car a success？
OCTAVIUS。 I think so。 We came from Hyde Park Corner here in
seventeen minutes。 ＇The Chauffeur； furious； kicks the car with a
groan of vexation＇。 How long were you？
TANNER。 Oh； about three quarters of an hour or so。
THE CHAUFFEUR。 ＇remonstrating＇ Now； now； Mr Tanner； come now！ We
could ha done it easy under fifteen。
TANNER。 By the way； let me introduce you。 Mr Octavius Robinson：
Mr Enry Straker。
STRAKER。 Ple