Granillo. Yes. Why?
Rupert (slowly. Everybody quite still.) You mean to say you can stand there—and puff out your chest—and tell me you have never been to the Coliseum?
Granillo. Yes. Why? Why should you think that I had?
Rupert. Merely the hawk-like sharpness of my vision.
Sir Johnstone. Why? Is it a crime never to have been to the Coliseum?
Rupert. No, sir, I don’t expect it’s a crime.
Sir Johnstone. For in that case I am afraid I myself am guilty.
Rupert. Oh no, sir, I merely thought that Granillo—by the mere look of him, standing there in his beautiful dark blue suit—was not the sort of person who had never been to the Coliseum.
Granillo, Well—I haven’t.
Brandon (coming down from sideboard). But young Ronald has been to the Coliseum, anyway, sir?
Sir Johnstone. That’s right.
[There is a slight pause. Leila gets up for another sandwich, and Raglan comes forward to help her.
Rupert (coming forward and getting in further muddles with plates, etc.). You know, I’m coming to the conclusion that there’s some ulterior motive about this chest picnic.
Granillo (again a trifle too heavily). What do you mean? Ulterior motive?
[Rupert looks at him without replying. He is obviously a little surprised at the other’s tone.
Brandon. You mean it’s done purely to make poor Rupert spill things over his trousers?
Rupert. I think it’s more than likely.
Leila. Oh, I suspect much worse than that. I think they’ve committed murder, and it’s simply chock-full of
[ 33 ]
