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begins searching vainly from drawer to drawer in the
writing…table。＇ Where on earth？ What the dickens did I？
That's very odd： IWhere the deuce？ I thought I had put it in
theOh； here it is！ No： this is Lucy's last letter。
THE LADY ＇elegiacally＇。 Lucy's Last Letter！ What a title for a
picture play！
AUGUSTUS ＇delighted＇。 Yes： it is； isn't it？ Lucy appeals to the
imagination like no other woman。 By the way ＇handing over the
letter＇； I wonder could you read it for me？ Lucy is a darling
girl； but I really can't read her writing。 In London I get the
office typist to decipher it and make me a typed copy； but here
there is nobody。
THE LADY ＇puzzling over it＇。 It is really almost illegible。 I
think the beginning is meant for 〃Dearest Gus。〃
AUGUSTUS ＇eagerly＇。 Yes： that is what she usually calls me。
Please go on。
THE LADY ＇trying to decipher it＇。 〃What a〃〃what a〃oh yes：
〃what a forgetful old〃something〃you are！〃 I can't make out
the word。
AUGUSTUS ＇greatly interested＇。 Is it blighter？ That is a favorite
expression of hers。
THE LADY。 I think so。 At all events it begins with a B。
＇Reading。＇ 〃What a forgetful old〃＇she is interrupted by a knock
at the door。＇
AUGUSTUS ＇impatiently＇。 Come in。 ＇The clerk enters； clean shaven
and in khaki； with an official paper and an envelope in his
hand。＇ What is this ridiculous mummery sir？
THE CLERK ＇coming to the table and exhibiting his uniform to
both＇。 They've passed me。 The recruiting officer come for me。
I've had my two and seven。
AUGUSTUS ＇rising wrathfully＇。 I shall not permit it。 What do they
mean by taking my office staff？ Good God！ they will be taking our
hunt servants next。 ＇Confronting the clerk。＇ What did the man
mean？ What did he say？
THE CLERK。 He said that now you was on the job we'd want another
million men； and he was going to take the old…age pensioners or
anyone he could get。
AUGUSTUS。 And did you dare to knock at my door and interrupt my
business with this lady to repeat this man's ineptitudes？
THE CLERK。 No。 I come because the waiter from the hotel brought
this paper。 You left it on the coffeeroom breakfast…table this
morning。
THE LADY ＇intercepting it＇。 It is the list。 Good heavens！
THE CLERK ＇proffering the envelope＇。 He says he thinks this is
the envelope belonging to it。
THE LADY ＇snatching the envelope also＇。 Yes！ Addressed to you；
Lord Augustus！ ＇Augustus comes back to the table to look at it。＇
Oh； how imprudent！ Everybody would guess its importance with your
name on it。 Fortunately I have some letters of my own here
＇opening her wallet。＇ Why not hide it in one of my envelopes？
then no one will dream that the enclosure is of any political
value。 ＇Taking out a letter； she crosses the room towards the
window； whispering to Augustus as she passes him。＇ Get rid of
that man。
AUGUSTUS ＇haughtily approaching the clerk； who humorously makes a
paralytic attempt to stand at attention＇。 Have you any further
business here； pray？
THE CLERK。 Am I to give the waiter anything； or will you do it
yourself？
AUGUSTUS。 Which waiter is it？ The English one？
THE CLERK。 No： the one that calls hisself a Swiss。 Shouldn't
wonder if he'd made a copy of that paper。
AUGUSTUS。 Keep your impertinent surmises to yourself； sir。
Remember that you are in the army now； and let me have no more of
your civilian insubordination。 Attention！ Left turn！ Quick march！
THE CLERK ＇stolidly＇。 I dunno what you mean。
AUGUSTUS。 Go to the guard…room and report yourself for disobeying
orders。 Now do you know what I mean？
THE CLERK。 Now look here。 I ain't going to argue with you
AUGUSTUS。 Nor I with you。 Out with you。
He seizes the clerk： and rushes him through the door。 The moment
the lady is left alone； she snatches a sheet of official paper
from the stationery rack： folds it so that it resembles the list；
compares the two to see that they look exactly alike： whips the
list into her wallet： and substitutes the facsimile for it。 Then
she listens for the return of Augustus。 A crash is heard； as of
the clerk falling downstairs。
Augustus returns and is about to close the door when the voice of
the clerk is heard from below。
THE CLERK。 I'll have the law of you for this； I will。
AUGUSTUS ＇shouting down to him＇。 There's no more law for you； you
scoundrel。 You're a soldier now。 ＇He shuts the door and comes to
the lady。＇ Thank heaven； the war has given us the upper hand of
these fellows at last。 Excuse my violence； but discipline is
absolutely necessary in dealing with the lower middle classes。
THE LADY。 Serve the insolent creature right！ Look I have found
you a beautiful envelope for the list； an unmistakable lady's
envelope。 ＇She puts the sham list into her envelope and hands it
to him。＇
AUGUSTUS。 Excellent。 Really very clever of you。 ＇Slyly。＇ Come：
would you like to have a peep at the list ＇beginning to take the
blank paper from the envelope＇？
THE LADY ＇on the brink of detection＇。 No no。 Oh； please； no。
AUGUSTUS。 Why？ It won't bite you ＇drawing it out further。＇
THE LADY ＇snatching at his hand＇。 Stop。 Remember： if there should
be an inquiry； you must be able to swear that you never showed
that list to a mortal soul。
AUGUSTUS。 Oh； that is a mere form。 If you are really curious
THE LADY。 I am not。 I couldn't bear to look at it。 One of my
dearest friends was blown to pieces by an aircraft gun； and since
then I have never been able to think of one without horror。
AUGUSTUS。 You mean it was a real gun； and actually went off。 How
sad！ how sad！ ＇He pushes the sham list back into the envelope；
and pockets it。＇
THE LADY。 Ah！ ＇Great sigh of relief＇。 And now； Lord Augustus； I
have taken up too much of your valuable time。 Goodbye。
AUGUSTUS。 What！ Must you go？
THE LADY。 You are so busy。
AUGUSTUS。 Yes； but not before lunch； you know。 I never can do
much before lunch。 And I'm no good at all in the afternoon。 From
five to six is my real working time。 Must you really go？
THE LADY。 I must； really。 I have done my business very
satisfactorily。 Thank you ever so much ＇she proffers her hand＇。
AUGUSTUS ＇shaking it affectionately as he leads her to the door；
but fast pressing the bell button with his left hand＇。 Goodbye。
Goodbye。 So sorry to lose you。 Kind of you to come； but there was
no real danger。 You see； my dear little lady； all this talk about
war saving； and secrecy； and keeping the blinds down at night；
and so forth； is all very well； but unless it's carried out with
intelligence； believe me； you may waste a pound to save a penny；
you may let out all sorts of secrets to the enemy； you may guide
the Zeppelins right on to your own chimneys。 That's where the
ability of the governing class comes in。 Shall the fellow call a
taxi for you？
THE LADY。 No； thanks： I prefer walking。 Goodbye。 Again； many；
many thanks。
She goes out。 Augustus returns to the writing…table smiling； and
takes another look at himself in the mirror。 The clerk returns；
with his head bandaged； carrying a poker。
THE CLERK。 What did you ring for？ ＇Augustus hastily drops the
mirror＇。 Don't you come nigh me or I'll split your head with this
poker； thick as it is。
AUGUSTUS。 It d