Part 13 (1/2)
KENT. The reverend one ... is downstairs and wants to see you.
WEDGECROFT. [_As he comes to them._] Hampstead Road Tabernacle ... Oh, the mammon of righteousness!
TREBELL. Shut up! How long have I before Lord Charles--?
KENT. Only ten minutes.
MRS. O'CONNELL _goes to sit at the big table, and apparently idly takes a sheet of paper to scribble on._
TREBELL. [_Half thinking, half questioning._] He's a man I can say nothing to politely.
WEDGECROFT. I'm off to Percival's now. Then I've another case and I'm due back at twelve. If there's anything helpful to say I'll look in again for two minutes ... not more.
TREBELL. You're a good man.
WEDGECROFT. [_As he goes._] Congratulations, Kent.
KENT. [_Taking him to the stairs._] Thank you very much.
AMY. [_Beckoning with her eyes._] What's this, Mr. Trebell?
TREBELL. Eh? I beg your pardon.
_He goes behind her and reads over her shoulder what she has written._ KENT _comes back._
KENT. Shall I bring him up here?
TREBELL _looks up and for a moment stares at his secretary rather sharply, then speaks in a matter-of-fact voice._
TREBELL. See him yourself, downstairs. Talk to him for five minutes ... find out what he wants. Tell him it will be as well for the next week or two if he can say he hasn't seen me.
KENT. Yes.
_He goes._ TREBELL _follows him to the door which he shuts. Then he turns to face_ AMY, _who is tearing up the paper she wrote on._
TREBELL. What is it?
AMY. [_Her steady voice breaking, her carefully calculated control giving way._] Oh Henry ... Henry!
TREBELL. Are you in trouble?
AMY. You'll hate me, but ... oh, it's brutal of you to have been away so long.
TREBELL. Is it with your husband?
AMY. Perhaps. Oh, come nearer to me ... do.
TREBELL. [_Coming nearer without haste or excitement._] Well? [_Her eyes are closed._] My dear girl, I'm too busy for love-making now. If there are any facts to be faced, let me have them ... quite quickly.
_She looks up at him for a moment; then speaks swiftly and sharply as one speaks of disaster._