I told them it was improper for more than one woman at a time to call at a bachelor's rooms, Basil. BASIL. If you'd warned me I'd have made the show a bit tidier. MABEL. Oh, that's just what we didn't want. We wanted to see the Celebrity at Home, without lime-light. BASIL. [_Ironically._] You're too flattering. MABEL. By the way, how is the book? _Basil._ Quite well, thanks. MABEL. I always forget to ask how it's getting on. BASIL. On the contrary, you never let slip an opportunity of making kind inquiries. MABEL. _I_ don't believe you've written a word of it. HILDA. Nonsense, Mabel. I've read it. MABEL. Oh, but you're such a monster of discretion.... Now I want to see your medals, Mr. Kent. BASIL. [_Smiling._] What medals? MABEL. Don't be coy! You know I mean the medals they gave you for going to the Cape. BASIL. [_Gets them from a drawer, and with a smile hands them to_ MABEL.] If you really care to see them, here they are. MABEL. [_Taking one._] What's this? BASIL. Oh, that's just the common or garden South African medal. MABEL. And the other one? BASIL. That's the D.S.M. MABEL. Why didn't they give you the D.S.O.? BASIL. Oh, I was only a trooper, you know. They only give the D.S.O. to officers. MABEL. And what did you do to deserve it? BASIL. [_Smiling._] I really forget. HILDA. It's given for distinguished service in the field, Mabel. MABEL. I knew. Only I wanted to see if Mr. Kent was modest or vain. BASIL. [_With a smile, taking the medals from her and putting them away._] How spiteful of you! MABEL. John, why didn't you go to the Cape, and do heroic things? JOHN. I confined my heroism to the British Isles. I married you, my angel. MABEL. Is that funny or vulgar? BASIL. [_Laughing._] Are there no more questions you want to ask me, Mrs. Halliwell? MABEL. Yes, I want to know why you live up six flights of stairs. BASIL. [_Amused._] For the view, simply and solely. MABEL. But, good heavens, there is no view. There are only chimney-pots. BASIL. But they're most æsthetic chimney-pots. Do come and look, Mrs. Murray. [BASIL _and_ HILDA _approach one of the windows, and he opens it_.] And at night they're so mysterious. They look just like strange goblins playing on the house-tops. And you can't think how gorgeous the sunsets are: sometimes, after the rain, the slate roofs glitter like burnished gold. [_To_ HILDA.] Often I think I couldn't have lived without my view, it says such wonderful things to me. [_Turning to_ MABEL _gaily_.] Scoff, Mrs. Halliwell, I'm on the verge of being sentimental. MABEL. I was wondering if you'd made that up on the spur of the moment, or if you'd fished it out of an old note-book. HILDA. [_With a look at_ BASIL.] May I go out? BASIL. Yes, do come. [HILDA _and_ BASIL _step out on the balcony, whereupon_ JOHN _goes to_ MABEL _and tries to steal a kiss from her_. MABEL. [_Springing up._] Go away, you horror!