LATIMER. And you are going with him, Nicholas? NICHOLAS. Yes. Thought I might as well be getting on. Very grateful and all that, but can’t stay here for ever. LATIMER (_wondering what has happened between NICHOLAS and ANNE_). So you are going too! I thought—— Well! Nicholas is going too. LEONARD. I say, you do understand—I mean about—er—I mean, when I’m quite well again—start afresh and all that. Cosset _her_ a bit. But when you’re ill—or supposed to be ill—— Well, I mean, ask Nicholas. NICHOLAS. Oh, rather. LATIMER. My dear Leonard, why these explanations? Who am I to interfere in other people’s matrimonial affairs? You and Nicholas are going away—good-bye. (_He holds out his hand._) NICHOLAS. Yes, but what about Eustasia? She’s not going to miss the chance of cosseting Leonard just when she is getting into it. She’ll be after him like a bird. LATIMER. I see. So you want me to keep her here? NICHOLAS. That’s the idea, if you could. LATIMER. How can I keep her here if she doesn’t want to stay? LEONARD. Well, how do you keep _any_body here? LATIMER. Really, Leonard, I am surprised at you. By the charm of my old-world courtesy and hospitality, of course. LEONARD. Oh! Well, I doubt if that keeps Eustasia. LATIMER (_shaking his head sadly_). I am afraid that that is only too true. In fact, the more I think of it, the more I realise that there is only one thing which will keep this devoted wife from her afflicted and suffering husband. LEONARD and NICHOLAS. What? _DOMINIC comes in._ LATIMER. His lordship and Mr. Nicholas are leaving at once. His lordship’s car will wait for them outside the gates. See that a bag is packed for them. DOMINIC. Yes, sir. LATIMER. And come back when you’ve seen about that. DOMINIC. Yes, sir. [_He goes out._ LATIMER. The car can return for the rest of your luggage, and take it over in the morning. NICHOLAS. Good! LEONARD. Er—thanks very much. (_Anxiously_) What were you going to say about the only way of—er—— LATIMER. The only way of keeping this devoted wife from her afflicted and suffering husband? LEONARD (_gruffly_). Yes. What is it? LATIMER. Somebody else must have a temperature. Somebody else must be ill. Eustasia must have somebody else to cosset. NICHOLAS. I say, how awfully sporting of you! LATIMER. Sporting? NICHOLAS. To sacrifice yourself like that. LATIMER. I? You don’t think _I_ am going to sacrifice myself, do you? No, no, it’s Dominic. DOMINIC (_coming in_). Yes, sir. LATIMER. Dominic, are you ever ill? DOMINIC. Never, sir, barring a slight shortness of the breath. LATIMER (_to the others_). That’s awkward. I don’t think you can cosset a shortness of the breath. NICHOLAS (_to DOMINIC_). I say, you could pretend to be ill, couldn’t you? DOMINIC. With what object, sir? NICHOLAS. Well—er——