I surmised she was on the verge of bankruptcy when I heard she'd bought a new motor. And you seriously think Charlie wants to marry her?
LADY MERESTON.
I'm sure of it.
FOULDES.
And what d'you want me to do?
LADY MERESTON.
Good heavens, I want you to prevent it. After all he has a magnificent position; he's got every chance of making a career for himself. There's no reason why he shouldn't be Prime Minister--it's not fair to the boy to let him marry a woman like that.
FOULDES.
Of course you know Lady Frederick?
LADY MERESTON.
My dear Paradine, we're the greatest friends. You don't suppose I'm going to give her the advantage of quarrelling with me. I think I shall ask her to luncheon to meet you.
FOULDES.
Women have such an advantage over men in affairs of this sort. They're troubled by no scruples, and, like George Washington, never hesitate to lie.
LADY MERESTON.
I look upon her as an abandoned creature, and I tell you frankly I shall stop at nothing to save my son from her clutches.
FOULDES.
Only a thoroughly good woman could so calmly announce her intention of using the crookedest ways to gain her ends.
LADY MERESTON.
[_Looking at him._] There must be some incident in her career which she wouldn't like raked up. If we could only get hold of that....
FOULDES.
[_Blandly._] How d'you imagine I can help you?
LADY MERESTON.
A reformed burglar is always the best detective.
FOULDES.
My dear, I wish you could be frank without being sententious.
LADY MERESTON.
You've run through two fortunes, and if we all got our deserts you would be starving now instead of being richer than ever.
FOULDES.
My second cousins have a knack of dying at the psychological moment.
LADY MERESTON.
You've been a horrid, dissipated wretch all your life, and heaven knows the disreputable people who've been your bosom friends.
FOULDES.
With my knowledge of the world and your entire lack of scruple we should certainly be a match for one defenceless woman.
LADY MERESTON.
[_Looking at him sharply._] Common report says that at one time you were very much in love with her.
FOULDES.
Common report is an ass whose long ears only catch its own braying.
LADY MERESTON.
I was wondering how far things went. If you could tell Charlie of the relations between you....
FOULDES.
My good Maud, there were no relations--unfortunately.
LADY MERESTON.
Poor George was very uneasy about you at the time.
FOULDES.
Your deceased husband, being a strictly religious man, made a point of believing the worst about his neighbours.
LADY MERESTON.
Don't, Paradine; I know you didn't like one another, but remember that I loved him with all my heart. I shall never get over his death.
FOULDES.
My dear girl, you know I didn't mean to wound you.
LADY MERESTON.