I've not seen him for years, you know.
MERESTON.
Oh, all right. I say, you're coming for a ride to-morrow, aren't you?
LADY FREDERICK.
Certainly. But it must be in the afternoon.
FOULDES.
I'm sorry, but Charles has arranged to motor me over to Nice in the afternoon.
MERESTON.
[_To_ LADY FREDERICK.] That'll suit me A 1. I had an engagement, but it was quite unimportant.
LADY FREDERICK.
Then that's settled. Good-night.
MERESTON.
Good-night.
[_He goes out with_ GERALD. LADY FREDERICK _turns and good-humouredly scrutinises_ PARADISE FOULDES.
LADY FREDERICK.
Well?
FOULDES.
Well?
LADY FREDERICK.
You wear excellently, Paradine.
FOULDES.
Thanks.
LADY FREDERICK.
How do you manage it?
FOULDES.
By getting up late and never going to bed early, by eating whatever I like and drinking whenever I'm thirsty, by smoking strong cigars, taking no exercise, and refusing under any circumstances to be bored.
LADY FREDERICK.
I'm sorry you had to leave town in such a hurry. Were you amusing yourself?
FOULDES.
I come to the Riviera every year.
LADY FREDERICK.
I daresay, but not so early.
FOULDES.
I've never surrendered so far to middle age as to make habits.
LADY FREDERICK.
My dear Paradine, the day before yesterday, Lady Mereston, quite distracted, went to the post office and sent you the following wire: "Come at once, your help urgently needed. Charlie in toils designing female, Maud." Am I right?
FOULDES.
I never admit even to myself that a well-dressed woman is mistaken.
LADY FREDERICK.
So you started post-haste, bent upon protecting your nephew, and were infinitely surprised to learn that the designing female was no other than your humble servant.
FOULDES.
You'd be irresistible, Lady Frederick, if you didn't know you were so clever.
LADY FREDERICK.
And now what are you going to do?
FOULDES.
My dear lady, I'm not a police officer, but a very harmless, inoffensive old bachelor.
LADY FREDERICK.
With more wiles than the mother of many daughters and the subtlety of a company promoter.
FOULDES.
Maud seems to think that as I've racketted about a little in my time, I'm just the sort of man to deal with you. Set a thief to catch a thief, don't you know? She's rather fond of proverbs.