[_As HORACE takes MRS. FUTVOYE'S and SYLVIA'S right hands and guides them to the dish._] And he calls this a simple, ordinary little dinner! CURTAIN THE SECOND ACT _The scene is the Arabian Hall--an hour later. The slaves are offering the guests water in golden bowls, and insisting on wiping their hands for them, an attention which the_ PROFESSOR resents._ PROFESSOR FUTVOYE. Ventimore! HORACE. [_Seated in utter dejection._] Yes, Professor? PROFESSOR FUTVOYE. I infer from the fact that the last course seemed to be something in the nature of--ah--_sweets_---- [_MRS. FUTVOYE and PRINGLE exchange glances, and sigh audibly._ HORACE. They _were_ rather beastly, weren't they? [_A slave takes the PROFESSOR'S hands with great respect, and inserts them into the bowl._ PROFESSOR FUTVOYE. As I was saying, I infer from that, and the circumstance that your attendant has _again_ attempted to wash my hands, that the--ah--banquet has come to an end. Is that so? HORACE. [_Miserably._] I _hope_ so! I mean--I _think_ so. PROFESSOR FUTVOYE. Then, as I have been suffering agonies of cramp from having had to sit for an hour on a cushion with my legs crossed, I should be glad, with your permission, to stretch them again. HORACE. So sorry! Mrs. Futvoye, shall we----? [_He helps MRS. FUTVOYE and SYLVIA to rise. PRINGLE has also risen; the PROFESSOR remains on his cushion._ PROFESSOR FUTVOYE. _I_ should be glad of some slight assistance. [SYLVIA comes to him_; HORACE and MRS. FUTVOYE are by the divan on the left._ PRINGLE. [_Crossing in front of table._] Allow me, Professor, allow me! [_He helps him to his feet._ PROFESSOR FUTVOYE. Thank you, Pringle, thank you. A word with you--[_drawing him away to the right, while SYLVIA joins her mother and Horace up on the left._]--Pringle. [_Lowering his voice._] I declare to you that never, _never_ have I been called upon to swallow a more repulsive and generally villainous meal! And that in a life which has had its--ah--ups and downs! PRINGLE. It's the same here, I can assure you. I don't understand our host's partiality for Arab cookery. And the _wine_! [_With a reminiscent shudder._] _Did_ you try the wine? PROFESSOR FUTVOYE. I did. It must have been kept in a goat-skin for years! And yet he must have spent a perfectly scandalous amount on this preposterous banquet of his! PRINGLE. A small fortune! Ah, well--I suppose he feels entitled to indulge in these costly fancies--_now_.