Brandon. Hullo. . . . Sorry—I can’t hear. It’s thundering this end. What? Who? Who? Oh! . . . Yes. Yes, rather. Will you hold the line a minute and I’ll get him? Right you are. Just hold on (Rises.) Sir Johnstone. . . .
[He goes out.
[There is a silence, Raglan grins at Leila. She grins back and comes down to fireplace and looks into it. Rupert, very abruptly, rises. He hobbles over to sideboard, and pours himself out a stiff drink. He gulps at it, takes some more, and gulps again. He seems, for the first time, rather nervous. He comes down and sits on chest. Voices heard coming from the other room and along the passage. Sir Johnstone and Brandon enter. sir Sir Johnstone has obviously had a very satisfactory time with the books. He leaves off talking and goes cheerfully over to telephone and takes up receiver.
Sir Johnstone. Hullo. . . . Hullo. . . . Hullo. . . . Hullo, hullo. . . . (To others.) No one here. . . . Oh, hullo—yes? . . . Oh yes. That you, dear? Oh, yes?
[The others are perfectly still.
Sir Johnstone. Ye-e-e-es. . . . Ye-e-e-es. . . . No, no . . . he’s not here. Yes, yes, that’s right.
[Granillo and Mrs. Debenham enter, Granillo talking, but immediately sense the silence of the others, and become as quiet as them. Sir Johnstone turns round and looks at them for a moment as he listens, and then turns back again.
Sir Johnstone. Yes, yes. That’s quite correct. Quite right, dear. . . . What? Oh, no, no. He’ll be back soon, I expect. Probably held up in the . . . What? Oh yes, dear. Well—I’ll be back there soon now. I’ll be coming pretty well straight away. . . . What? Yes. Right you are. Right you are. . . . Good-bye. (Puts down receiver. He looks thoughtful, and suddenly a trifle older and more lonely. Pause.) Ronald hasn’t come back. . . .
[ 65 ]
