‘My dear,’ cried his sister, sinking magnificently into the sofa and laying her arms along the back of it, ‘I’ve said so often exactly what I think of the Orrincourt that he can’t possibly do anything else. I don’t give a damn, Tommy. If Papa expects me to purr round congratulating them, he’s never been more mistaken. I can’t do it. It’s been a hideous shock to me. It hurts me, here,’ she added, beating a white fist on her striking bosom. ‘All my respect, my love, my ideal—shattered.’ She flashed her eyes at her sister-in-law. ‘You think I exaggerate, Jen. You’re lucky. You’re not easily upset.’

‘Well,’ said Jenetta lightly, ‘I’ve yet to meet Miss Orrincourt.’

‘He’s not your father,’ Dessy pointed out with emotion.

‘No more he is,’ she agreed.

‘T’uh!’ said Dessy bitterly.

This conversation was interrupted by Fenella, who ran downstairs, flew across the hall, and, with an inarticulate cry, flung herself into her mother’s arms.

‘Now, then,’ said Jenetta softly, holding her daughter for a moment, ‘no high strikes.’

‘Mummy, you’re not furious? Say you’re not furious!’

‘Do I look furious, you goat? Where’s Paul?’

‘In the library. Will you come? Mummy, you’re Heaven. You’re an angel.’

‘Do pipe down, darling. And what about Aunt Dessy and Uncle Thomas?’

Fenella turned to greet them. Thomas kissed her carefully. ‘I hope you’ll be happy,’ he said. ‘It ought to be all right, really. I looked up genetics in a medical encyclopedia after I read the announcement. The chap said the issue of first cousins was generally quite normal, unless there was any marked insanity in the family which was common to both.’

‘Tommy!’ said his sister. ‘Honestly, you are!’

‘Well,’ said Jenetta Ancred, ‘with that assurance to fortify us, Fen, suppose you take me to see Paul.’

They went off together. Millamant and Pauline came downstairs. ‘Such a nuisance,’ Millamant was saying, ‘I really don’t quite know how to arrange it.’

‘If you’re talking about rooms, Milly,’ said Desdemona, ‘I tell you flatly that unless something has been done about the rats I won’t go into Bracegirdle.’

‘Well, but Dessy—’ Pauline began.

‘Has something been done about the rats?’

‘Barker,’ said Millamant unhappily, ‘has lost the arsenic. I think he did Miss Orrincourt’s rooms some time ago, and after that the tin disappeared.’

‘Good God!’ said Thomas quietly.

‘Pity he didn’t put some in her tooth-glass,’ said Desdemona vindictively.

‘What about Ellen Terry?’

‘I was putting Jenetta into Terry.’

‘Come into Bernhardt with me, Dess,’ Pauline suggested richly. ‘I’d love to have you. We can talk. Let’s.’