Part 36 (1/2)

ROSALINE.

Of course his name is Tempenny--I never denied it.

REMBRANDT TEMPENNY and MRS. SYLVESTER (_aside_).

What?

ROSALINE.

I am n.o.body's accomplice--I am an honest woman earning a living. I will tell lies for no one.

REMBRANDT TEMPENNY (_aside_).

The cat!

MRS. SYLVESTER.

Oh, this is infamous! So Mr. Tempenny a.s.sists my husband to deceive me, does he? We will see what his wife has to say to it. Birds of a feather--as I always thought. Abandoned wretches both!

(_Exit L_.)

REMBRANDT TEMPENNY (_springing up_).

You mischief-making little beast--what have you done?

ROSALINE.

Don't you talk to me like that--I won't have it!

REMBRANDT TEMPENNY (_furiously_).

You won't have it!

ROSALINE.

No, I won't.

REMBRANDT TEMPENNY.

You--you--! You smacked my face!

ROSALINE.

And I'll smack it again if you aggravate me. If it weren't that _he_ will be here later on, I'd walk straight out of the studio, and never come into it again.

REMBRANDT TEMPENNY.

I've a good mind to bundle you out neck and crop, I can tell you. That woman has gone off to complain to my wife. Here, get me out of these things. (_He divests himself of the Chinese wig and costume_.) I think I had better go. I don't know how I'll do the picture--I'll _never_ do the picture. I think _you_ had better go--if Charlie Sylvester finds you here after this, he will murder you.

CHARLES SYLVESTER (_off_).