What does that matter? This situation could never happen to him. He wouldn’t let it. ZOE You mustn’t place too much faith in the strong and silent, Edward. They crumple up quicker than any of us when confronted with something outside their very limited range. EDWARD You don’t like Evie, do you? ZOE You forget I’ve been married to one of his species. EDWARD Evie’s not a cad. ZOE How do you know? EDWARD He could never behave as foully as Kenneth. ZOE Kenneth was never anything but an honorable, clean-living Englishman. EDWARD He divorced you. ZOE Only because I made him. EDWARD Why didn’t he let you divorce him? ZOE It would have been bad for his military career. EDWARD You deliberately put yourself in the wrong. ZOE Yes. EDWARD And you really think it was worth while? ZOE Certainly I do. Our mutual boredom was verging on hatred—there was no hope of getting back, ever. What’s the use of going on with a thing that’s dead and done for? I decided to break free. EDWARD Is one really happier free? ZOE Don’t be fatuous, Edward darling. EDWARD I don’t think I have enough initiative to do anything definite like that. ZOE You don’t need much initiative. All you’ve got to do is wait for your opportunity, and grab it! [_Enter BERRY._] BERRY [_Announcing_] Major Bathurst. [_Enter EVELYN BATHURST. He is tall, handsome, soldierly, and essentially masculine. His gaze is frank and correct._] [_BERRY exits._] EVELYN Hullo, Edward! Zoe, I haven’t seen you for years. [_They shake hands._] ZOE How are you, Evie? EVELYN Splendid! I feel awfully guilty, though. I meant to have written and sympathized over all your beastly divorce business. Will you forgive me? ZOE There’s nothing to forgive. It was all a howling success, anyway. EVELYN Success! Whew! You must have had the hell of a time! ZOE It was unpleasant but illuminating. EDWARD Want a cocktail, Evie? EVELYN No, thanks. EDWARD Cigarette? EVELYN Rather—yes. [_He takes one._] ZOE How was India? EVELYN I don’t know. I haven’t been there. ZOE I’m so sorry. I thought you had. EVELYN No. Morocco was quite warm enough for me. ZOE You arrived at an opportune moment. We were just discussing you. EVELYN Good God! What for? ZOE Edward was wishing he were more like you. EVELYN That’s uncommonly nice and right of him. Why this sudden burst of inferiority, Edward? EDWARD It’s been brewing up for a long time. EVELYN [_Laughing_] Oh, well, we all come to our senses sooner or later. ZOE Not always, Evie. EVELYN My only quarrel with Edward is he doesn’t take enough exercise. EDWARD I’m not very good at exercise. EVELYN You never make any effort. Why don’t you come and play squash with me sometimes? EDWARD That’s not exercise, it’s flagellation. EVELYN He’s looking a bit off color, don’t you think, Zoe? ZOE Only comparatively. EVELYN Been over-working, I suppose? EDWARD No, not really. ZOE