_General Livingston._ (_Gasps almost tearfully._) Have you newspaper men no sense of personal decency, personal dignity?
_Lynch._ Don't be too hard on us, General. During business hours, our associations are very bad.
_General Livingston._ What do you mean?
_Lynch._ We have the name of the lady who was with Mr. Stanton in his car at the time of his accident. We have learned all about the trip and we have the woman's name. So I have come to give Mr.
Stanton a----
_General Livingston._ (_Interrupting._) Would the papers print that?
_Lynch._ Would they print it? Well--(_Smiles significantly._)
_General Livingston._ Then I shall say nothing, but our lawyers will take action.
_Lynch._ They'd better take it quick. You'll have fifty reporters up here by to-morrow night. If Mr. Stanton refuses to say anything, we will simply send out the story that the woman in the car with him at the time of his automobile accident was----(_Pauses, then with dramatic emphasis._) Mrs. Elizabeth Blakemore.
_General Livingston._ (Starting back in amazement.) Good gracious!!
_Bob and Morris._ (_Turn, face each other, absolute amazement showing on their faces, speak together._) Well, what do you think of that? (_Whitney alone is not surprised. The situation is held a moment, then Stanton enters. He does not see Lynch at first._)
_Stanton._ (_As he comes on._) General, I wish to apologize----(_Stops short, seeing Lynch._)
_General Livingston._ (_Whirling on Stanton._) Apologize!
Apologize! How dare you, sir! (_Losing his self-control._) My great-grandfather killed his man for just such an insult----
[_Marion enters to save the situation. The reporter withdraws for a moment, while the general informs her that Mrs. Blakemore must leave the house at once. Marion demurs._]
_Marion._ Father, I told you once what concerns my own life I must settle my own way. I don't want to appear disrespectful, but you cannot coerce me in my own house. (_Walks past him to the door and opens it._) Good evening, Mr. Lynch.
_Lynch._ (_Sincere tone._) I hope you will believe me, Mrs.
Stanton, when I tell you it is not a pleasure to me to have to come on this errand.
_Marion._ Thank you, Mr. Lynch.
_Lynch._ I'd rather talk to Mr. Stanton.
_Marion._ Sorry, but----(_Her manner is pleasant and friendly, but firm. Lynch evidently likes her and with a shrug he accepts situation._)
_Lynch._ Then please understand my position, and how I regret personally the question that, as a newspaper man, I must put.
(_Marion bows._) Bluntly, Mrs. Stanton, we have the name of that woman.
_Marion._ Yes.
_Lynch._ And we are going to publish it unless it can be proven wrong.
_Marion._ I'd expect that. Who is she?
_Lynch._ Mrs. Elizabeth Blakemore. (_Lynch pronounces the name regretfully. Marion stares at him a moment in amazement, then throws back her head and gives way to a peal of laughter. The men on the stage stare at Marion amazed._)
_Marion._ Oh, this is too good! Too good! Forgive me, Mr. Lynch.
(_Goes off into another peal of laughter, turns to the men._) Howard, Dad, all of you, did you hear that? What a splendid joke!
(_The men try awkwardly to back her up._)
_General Livingston._ Splendid! Haw! Haw!
_Bob._ Fine, he, he!
_Morris._ (_At head of table._) Ho, ho. I never knew anything like it.
_Whitney._ I told Mr. Lynch he was on a cold trail.
_Lynch._ (_Grimly._) You can't laugh me off.
_Marion._ (_Struggling for self-control._) Of course not. But you must forgive my having my laugh first. I'll offer more substantial proof. (_Opens door, letting in immediately the sound of women's talking and laughter which stop short as though the women had looked around at the opening of the door. Calling in her most dulcet tone._) Elizabeth!
_Mrs. Blakemore._ (_Her voice heard off stage._) Yes, Marion, dear. (_An amazed gasp from the men. Mrs. Blakemore appears at the door._)
_Marion._ Come in! (_Mrs. Blakemore enters, looks about quickly, almost fearfully. Marion slips her arm about Mrs. Blakemore's waist in reassuring fashion, laughing, but at the same time giving Mrs. Blakemore a warning pressure with her arm._) Don't say a word, dear. The greatest joke you ever heard! Come! (_Mrs.
Blakemore, following suit, slips her arm about Marion. They come down stage to Lynch, their arms about each other's waist most affectionately. The men are staring at them dumfounded. Marion and Mrs. Blakemore stop opposite Lynch. Marion speaks gaily._) Mr.
Lynch, of the City News, may I present Mrs. Elizabeth Blakemore?
_Lynch._ (_In amazement._) Mrs. Blakemore!
_Mrs. Blakemore._ (_Bowing pleasantly._) Glad to meet you, Mr.
Lynch.
_Lynch._ (_Repeating, dazed._) Mrs. Blakemore!
_Marion._ (_Gaily._) And you see she's not lame a bit from her broken leg.
_Mrs. Blakemore._ What's the joke?
_Marion._ (_Taunting._) You would not expect, Mr. Lynch, to find plaintiff and corespondent so friendly.
_Mrs. Blakemore._ (_Gasping._) Plaintiff! Corespondent!
_Marion._ Yes, dear. Mr. Lynch came all the way up from down town to tell me that I am going to bring a divorce suit against Howard, naming you as corespondent. Now wasn't that sweet of him? (_She keeps her warning pressure about Mrs. Blakemore's waist._)
_Mrs. Blakemore._ (_Taking the cue._) This is awful! Horrible!
_Marion._ Now, dear, don't lose your sense of humor. (_To Lynch._) Are you satisfied, Mr. Lynch?
_Lynch._ Forgive me. Mrs. Stanton, but you are so confounded clever you might run in a "ringer." (_Reaches in his pocket, brings out a picture, holds it up and compares the picture with Mrs. Blakemore. Finally looks up._) Guess you win, Mrs. Stanton.
_Marion._ Thanks. (_Bows satirically._)
_Lynch._ Yes, you must be right I don't believe even you could put your arm about the _other woman_. (_A suppressed, gasping exclamation from the men._)
_Marion._ That observation hardly requires an answer, Mr. Lynch.