when he has merely got mildly intoxicated, is to have exemplified at once his sense of humour and wickedness. In the presence of Granillo and Brandon he is merely, of course, tentative and hopeless. He is in evening dress.
Raglan (coming forward nervously). Hullo.
Brandon (taking his hand cordially). Hullo, Raglan, old man. Come right in. You know Granillo, don’t you?
Raglan. Rather.
[He shakes hands with Granillo, who has also come forward cordially.
Granillo. Quite a long time since we met, though. (Smiles.)
Raglan. Yes—isn’t it? (Looking round nervously.) I say, I’m terribly sorry. I’ve come dressed.
Brandon. My dear fellow, my fault entirely. Come and seat yourself. (Leads him affectionately to chair.) I should have explained. You know we’re going up to Oxford to-night?
Raglan. Oh, no—are you? I’m not going up till Friday.
Brandon. Now what are you going to drink? You can have Gin and Italian. . . . Or Gin and Angostura. And I can do you a very nice Gin and French.
Raglan. I should like Gin and It, I think.
Brandon. Gin and It? Right. (Goes over to sideboard, opens bottles and commences to pour carefully. Talks while doing this.) Yes, we leave to-night about twelve, and travel by (pouring deftly) automobile—in the (more pouring)—let us hope—moonlight. And of course all this place is simply covered (pouring) with books.
Raglan. Covered with books?
Brandon (coming down with drink). Yes. I’ve come into a library.
Raglan. Come into a library?
[ 19 ]
