[Embarrassed pause. Sabot has come in after Kenley, etc., and is quietly going on with the laying of the chest.
Brandon. And there we are. And here, Sir Johnstone, is an armchair which I think is more or less in your line. (Leads him down to it.) And here is a chest, from which we’re going to feed, the table having been commandeered for books.
Sir Johnstone (peering at chest). That’s not a Cassone, is it?
Brandon. No, sir. It’s not genuine, it’s a reproduction. But it’s rather a nice piece. I got it in Italy.
[Granillo has seen that all are seated, and is now standing at mantelpiece. Sabot is moving about, laying plates, knives, sandwiches, etc. on chest.
(To Sir Johnstone) Now will you have a cocktail, sir?
Sir Johnstone. Good heavens, no, my boy. (He looks vaguely about the room.)
Brandon. And you, Mrs. Debenham? (She merely smirks.)
You won’t?
Mrs. Debenham. Oh, yes, please.
Brandon. Ah. Good. Now what will you have? Will you have a Gin and Angostura, or a Gin and French, or a Gin and Italian?
Mrs. Debenham. Yes, please.
Sir Johnstone. These books I’m going to see—where are they, Brandon?
Brandon (going to sideboard again). Oh, the books. They’re in the other room. The dining-room. I laid them out as well as I could, and there’s more space in there.
Sir Johnstone. I shall be interested to see them—most interested. . . . I seem to remember that Wickham had a really remarkable little lot of Shakesperana . . .
[ 26 ]
