(She manages to get her hand back, and they walk to the door together.)

BOBBY.  I suppose I may as well go to bed myself.

JANE (at the door).  Well, if you are, we’d better put the lights out.

BOBBY.  Righto. (He puts them out.) I say, what a night! (The moonlight streams through the windows on them.) You’ll hardly want a candle.

    [They go out together.

(The hall is empty.  Suddenly the front door bell is heard to ring.  After a little interval, ALICE comes in, turns on the light, and looks round the hall.  She is walking across the hall to the drawing-room when MR. KNOWLE comes in from behind her, and she turns round.)

MR. KNOWLE.  Were you looking for me, Alice?

ALICE.  Yes, sir.  There’s a gentleman at the front door, sir.

MR. KNOWLE.  Rather late for a call, isn’t it?

ALICE.  He’s in a motor car, sir, and it’s broken down, and he wondered if you’d lend him a little petrol.  He told me to say how very sorry he was to trouble you——­

MR. KNOWLE.  But he’s not troubling me at all—­particularly if Peters is about.  I daresay you could find Peters, Alice, and if it’s not troubling Peters too much, perhaps he would see to it.  And ask the gentleman to come in.  We can’t keep him standing on the door-mat.

ALICE.  Yes, sir.  I did ask him before, sir.

MR. KNOWLE.  Well, ask him this time in the voice of one who is about to bring in the whiskey.

ALICE.  Yes, sir.

MR. KNOWLE.  And then—­bring in the whiskey.

ALICE.  Yes, sir. (She goes out, and returns a moment later) He says, thank you very much, sir, but he really won’t come in, and he’s very sorry indeed to trouble you about the petrol.

MR. KNOWLE.  Ah!  I’m afraid we were too allusive for him.

ALICE (hopefully).  Yes, sir.

MR. KNOWLE.  Well, we won’t be quite so subtle this time.  Present Mr. Knowle’s compliments, and say that I shall be very much honoured if he will drink a glass of whiskey with me before proceeding on his journey.

ALICE.  Yes, sir.

MR. KNOWLE.  And then—­bring in the whiskey.

ALICE.  Yes, sir. (She goes out.  In a little while she comes back followed by the stranger, who is dressed from head to foot in a long cloak.) Mr. Gervase Mallory.

    [She goes out.

MR. KNOWLE.  How do you do, Mr. Mallory?  I’m very glad to see you.  (They shake hands.)

GERVASE.  It’s very kind of you.  I really must apologise for bothering you like this.  I’m afraid I’m being an awful nuisance.

MR. KNOWLE.  Not at all.  Are you going far?

GERVASE.  Collingham.  I live at Little Malling, about twenty miles away.  Do you know it?

MR. KNOWLE.  Yes.  I’ve been through it.  I didn’t know it was as far away as that.

GERVASE (with a laugh).  Well, perhaps only by the way I came.  The fact is I’ve lost myself rather.