_
MRS. WESTERN. [_Pausing on the threshold._] Well!
HARVEY. [_Rising and dusting himself._] No trace of it.
MRS. WESTERN. [_Looking around._] A nice mess you've made of the room!
MARTIN. You told us to look, Madam.
JUDGE. [_Going to the fire and standing with his back to it._] I'm afraid
we'll be shockingly late, Alice.
MRS. WESTERN. [_Firmly._] I don't go without my bracelet.
[_She goes to the table, and proceeds to shift the cups and
glasses._
MRS. BANKET. [_Moving to the other side of the table, and doing the
same._] Quite right, dear--I wouldn't.
[_They all search, except the_ JUDGE, _who shrugs his shoulders
placidly, then takes a cigarette from his case, and lights it.
The three servants still are grovelling on the floor._
MRS. WESTERN. I _know_ I had it while I was drinking my coffee--
JUDGE. My experience is, one should never look for things. They find
themselves.
MRS. WESTERN. [_Shortly._] Nonsense.
JUDGE. A fact. Or at least one should _pretend_ to be looking for
something else. My glasses now. When I lose them I declare loudly I can't
find my cigar-case. That disheartens the glasses--they return at once.
MRS. BANKET. [_Reproachfully._] Don't be so irritating, Tom!
JUDGE. That's all very well, but how about me? I was asked here to dine.
I've dined--I'm not complaining about the dinner. But now the curtain's
up--and here am I watching half-a-dozen people looking very hard for a
thing that isn't there.
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