GERALD. You mean you happened to be on one side of the door while
Oliver and Anabel were talking on the other?
MRS. BARLOW. You'd make a detective, Gerald--you're so good at
putting two and two together. I listened till I'd heard as much
as I wanted. I'm not sure I didn't come down here hoping to hear
another conversation going on.
GERALD. Listen outside the door, darling?
MRS. BARLOW. There'd be nothing to listen to if I were inside.
GERALD. It isn't usually done, you know.
MRS. BARLOW. I listen outside doors when I have occasion to be
interested--which isn't often, unfortunately for me.
GERALD. But I've a queer feeling that you have a permanent occasion
to be interested in me. I only half like it.
MRS. BARLOW. It's surprising how uninteresting you are, Gerald, for a
man of your years. I have not had occasion to listen outside a door,
for you, no, not for a great while, believe me.
GERALD. I believe you implicitly, darling. But do you happen to
know me through and through, and in and out, all my past and present
doings, mother? Have you a secret access to my room, and a spy-hole,
and all those things? This is uncomfortably thrilling. You take on
a new lustre.
MRS. BARLOW. Your memoirs wouldn't make you famous, my son.
GERALD. Infamous, dear?
MRS. BARLOW. Good heavens, no! What a lot you expect from your very
mild sins! You and this young woman have lived together, then?
GERALD.
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