Ao» II.]                    MR.   PIM  PASSES  BY.                               45

Pm (to George). Telworthy—Telworthy—didn't I say TeK-
worthy ?    Yes, that was it—Telworthy.    Poor feUow I

Olivia. I'm going to be perfectly frank with you, Mr. Pim. I
feel quite sure that I can trust you.

Pm.   Oh, Mrs. Marden!

Olivia.   This man Telworthy whom you met is my husband.

Pim. Your husband ? (He looks in mild surprise at Geobob.)
Your—er------

Olivia. My first husband. His death was announced six years
ago. I had left him some years before that, but there seems no
doubt from your story that he's stiU alive. His record—the country
he comes from—above all, the very unusual name—Telworthy.

Pm. Telworthy—^yes—certainly a most peculiar name. I
remember saying so.    Your first husband ?    Dear me I   Dear me I

George. You understand, Mr. Pim, that aU this is in absolute
confidence.

Pim (turning to George).   Of course, of course.

Olivia (pulling his arm, trying to attract his attention). WeU, since
he b my husband, we naturaUy want to know something about him.
Where is he now, for instance?

Pm (surprised and turning to Olivia). Where is he now!
But surely I told you ?    I told you what happened at MarseiUes !

George.   At MarseiUes 1

Pm (to George). Yes, yes, poor feUow, it was most unfortunate.
(To Lady Mabden. Olivia again pulls his arm, trying to attract
his attention.) You must understand. Lady Marden, that although
I had met the poor feUow before in Austraha, I was never in any way
intimate------

George (thumping the desk). Where is he now, that's what we
want to know f

(Mb. Pm turns to him with a start.)

Ouvia.   Please, Mr. Pim I

Pm (to Olivia). Where is he now ! But—but didn't I teU you
of the curious fataHty at MarseiUes—poor feUow—^the fish-bone !

All.   Fish-bone ?

Pm.   Yes, yes, a herring, I understand.

Olivia (becoming hysterical).   Do you mean he's dead f

Pm.   Dead—of course he's dead.   He's been dead——

Ouvia (laughing hysterically).   Oh, Mr. Pim, you—oh, what a

husbaad to have—oh, I------   (But that is all she can say for the

momeni.)

Lady Marden. Pull yourself together, OHvia. (To Pm.) So he
r^dly is dead this time ?

Pm. Ohy undoubtedly, undoubtedly. A fish-bone lodged fai
'lis throat.

(Lady Mardbn retreats to settee b. again.)