is very deliberate on Stoppard's part and is increased when one of Septimus' first lines upon entering the house is "what a bracing experience!" [page 67].
             Of course, we very quickly learn that the duel has in fact not taken place and Septimus is talking about having shot some animals. We know that the duel was supposed to have taken place at five o'clock, but when Septimus asks Jellaby to confirm the time we learn it is five thirty already. When Septimus goes on to make no mention at all of fighting anybody and merely talks of "fishes... birds... frogs... rabbits" [page 67] the audience can be fairly certain that no duel has occurred.
             Like Septimus, we are unaware at first of the events that have taken place at Sidley Park during the night, but we are very quickly brought up to speed by Jellaby's explanation. In this scene, Jellaby functions less as a character and more as a kind of narrative device t
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