Of course, _he_ knew all the time.
BAXTER (to the world). Still more am I delighted to have gained
the victory over Mr. Devenish in this enterprise.
BELINDA. Eighteen years--but I _ought_ to have known.
BAXTER (at large). I shall not be accused of exaggerating when I
say that the odds against such an enterprise were enormous.
BELINDA. Eighteen years--And now I've eight whole _hours_ to
wait!
BAXTER (triumphantly). It will be announced to-night. "Mr.
Devenish," I shall say, "young fellow--" (He arranges his speech in
his mind.)
BELINDA. So I was right, after all! (Slowly and triumphantly.) He
_does_ look better without a beard!
BAXTER (making his speech). "Mr. Devenish, young fellow, when you
matched yourself against a man of my repute, when you matched
yourself against a man"--(BELINDA has slipped out, to enjoy her
happiness alone)--"who has read papers at soirees of the Royal
Statistical Society; when--er--"
[He looks round the room and discovers to his amazement that he is
alone. He claps on his bowler-hat, gives another amazed look round,
says with a shrug, "Unusual!" and goes out.]
ACT III
[It is after dinner in BELINDA'S hall. BELINDA is lying on the
sofa with a coffee-cup in her hand. DELIA, in the chair on the
right, has picked up "The Lute of Love" from a table and is reading
it impatiently.
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