DEVENISH (to BAXTER). Robinson is a great big-game hunter.
BAXTER. Indeed? I have never done anything in that way myself, but I'm
sure it must be an absorbing pursuit.
TREMAYNE. Oh, well, it's something to do.
DEVENISH (to BAXTER). You must get him to tell you about a wrestle
he had with a lion once. Extraordinary story! (Looking at his watch
suddenly.) Jove! I must be off. See you again, Baxter. Good-bye,
Robinson. No, don't shake hands. I'm in a hurry. [He looks at his watch
again and goes out hurriedly by the door on the left.]
(TREMAYNE sit down together on the sofa.)
TREMAYNE. Unusual man, your friend Devenish. I suppose it comes of being
a poet.
BAXTER. I have no great liking for Mr. Devenish--
TREMAYNE. Oh, he's all right.
BAXTER. But I am sure that if he is impressed by anything outside
himself or his own works, it must be something rather remarkable. Pray
tell me of your adventure with the lion.
TREMAYNE (laughing). Really, you mustn't think that I go about telling
everybody my adventures. It just happened to come up. I'm afraid I shook
his hand rather more warmly than I meant, and he asked me if I'd ever
tried strangling lions. That was all.
BAXTER. And had you?
TREMAYNE. Well, it just happened that I had.
BAXTER. Indeed! You came off scathless, I trust?
TREMAYNE (carelessly indicating his arm). Well, he got me one across
there.
BAXTER (obviously excited). Really, really. One across there. Not bad, I
hope?
TREMAYNE (laughing). Well, it doesn't show unless I do that. (He pulls
up his sleeve carelessly and BAXTER bends eagerly over his arm.)
BAXTER. Good heavens! I've found it!
TREMAYNE. Found what? (He pulls down his sleeve.)
BAXTER. I must see Mrs. Tremayne. Where's Mrs. Tremayne?
TREMAYNE. She went out just now. What's the matter?
BAXTER. Out! I must find her. This is a matter of life and death. [He
seizes his hat and hurries out by the front door.]
(TREMAYNE stares after him in amazement. Then he pulls up his sleeve,
looks at his scar again and shakes his head. While he is still puzzling
over it, BELINDA comes back.)
BELINDA. Such a to-do in the kitchen! The cook's given notice--at least
she will directly--and your lamb cutlet slipped back to the shop when
nobody was looking, and I've got to go into the village again, and oh
dear, oh dear, I have such a lot of things to do! (Looking across at MR.
BAXTER'S door.) Oh yes, that's another one. Mr. Robinson, you will have
to leave me. Farewell.
TREMAYNE. Belinda--
BELINDA. No, not even Belinda. Wait till this evening.
TREMAYNE. I have a thousand things to say to you; I shall say them this
evening.
BELINDA (giving him her hand). Begin about eight o'clock. Good-bye till
then.
[He takes her hand, looks at her for a moment, then suddenly bends and
kisses it, and out.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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