GERVASE. Please. . . . Thanks!
(He takes the glass.)
MR. KNOWLE (giving himself one). I'm so glad you came, because I have a horror of drinking alone. Even when my wife gives me cough-mixture, I insist on somebody else in the house having cough-mixture too. A glass of cough-mixture with an old friend just before going to bed—— (He looks up) But do take your coat off, won't you, and sit down and be comfortable?
GERVASE. Er—thanks very much, but I don't think—— (With a shrug and a smile) Oh, well! (He puts down his glass and begins to take it off. He is in fancy dress—the wonderful young Prince in blue and gold of MELISANDE'S dream.)
(MR. KNOWLE turns round to him again just as he has put his cloak down. He looks at GERVASE in amazement.)
MR. KNOWLE (pointing to his whiskey glass). But I haven't even begun it yet. . . . Perhaps it's the port.
GERVASE (laughing). I'm awfully sorry. You must wonder what on earth I'm doing.
MR. KNOWLE. No, no; I wondered what on earth I'd been doing.
GERVASE. You see, I'm going to a fancy dress dance at Collingham.
MR. KNOWLE. You relieve my mind considerably.