On the contrary, Mrs. Stonehay, you may be able to console my wife in her first small grief. MRS. STONEHAY. So soon? LESLIE. Dunstan is obliged to leave me for two or three days. DUNSTAN RENSHAW. I am just off to Rome to furnish some lodgings we have taken there, in the Via Sistina. Poor Leslie was to have accompanied me, but Doctor Coldstream forbids the risk of a Roman hotel. MRS. STONEHAY. Leaving this delightful villa! DUNSTAN RENSHAW. Yes, the Villa Colobiano is delightful. At any rate Michael Angelo must have thought so at one time, when, in a moment of misapplied artistic ecstacy, he made his mark upon our wall. LESLIE. Oh, yes, we’ve suffered dreadfully. Dunstan didn’t know when he took the Villa that it is honourably mentioned in Baedeker. DUNSTAN RENSHAW. The irrepressible Tourists have made our life a martyrdom. With guide-book, green spectacles, and sun-umbrella, they look for traces of Michael Angelo in every corner of the house. LESLIE. If we’re dining they almost lift up the dish-covers. DUNSTAN RENSHAW. At first the servants hinted at a desire for seclusion on the part of a newly married couple. LESLIE. That made matters worse; they wanted to see _us_ then. DUNSTAN RENSHAW. Just as if we had been tatooed by Michael Angelo. LESLIE. [_Taking IRENE’S hand._] But it is such a relief to see real friends. How did you discover us? [_IRENE and MRS. STONEHAY look at each other._] IRENE. We were driving out to Fiesole--and---- MRS. STONEHAY. The coachman told us we ought to see Michael Angelo’s cartoon. DUNSTAN RENSHAW. Oh, of course--delighted--we’re awfully pleased---- LESLIE. We didn’t mean that we don’t like showing the--the---- MRS. STONEHAY. What a magnificent view you command here! LESLIE. [_Whispering to DUNSTAN._] Oh, darling, what a muddle! DUNSTAN RENSHAW. Don’t fret about it, sweetheart. I must go and dress for my journey. You will drive with me to the railway station? LESLIE. No, no. I couldn’t part from you with people standing by. Not that I mean to cry. DUNSTAN RENSHAW. Cry! You must never shed tears. [_He kisses her fondly while the others are looking at the view._] Why, there’s old Wilfrid asleep. Make him help you with these Stonehenges. [_He leaves her and she wakes WILFRID._] LESLIE. Will! Will! WILFRID BRUDENELL. Eh! What is it? I think I must have dropped off to sleep. LESLIE. We’ve accidentally hurt some people’s feelings. Assist me in being very nice to them. WILFRID BRUDENELL. Yes--but wait a minute. I’m not quite sure--where---- [_She drags WILFRID over to MRS. STONEHAY and IRENE._] LESLIE. This is my brother, Wilfrid. [_Quietly to WILFRID._] Rattle on, Will, dear. Wilfrid, you recollect meeting Miss Stonehay at Helmstead. WILFRID BRUDENELL. [_Only half awake, seizing MRS. STONEHAY’S hand._] O yes, I recollect you perfectly. You left school some time ago, I suppose? MRS. STONEHAY. Yes--five-and-twenty years ago. LESLIE.