LEONARD. Damn it, I can’t shave down here.
LATIMER. Oh, come, we mustn’t stand on ceremony when your life is at stake. You were complaining only five minutes ago of the draught in your room. Now, here we have a nice even temperature——
LEONARD. Well, there’s something in that.
LATIMER. There’s everything in it. Of course you’ve never had a cold before, so you don’t know, but any doctor will tell you how important it is to stay in one room—with a nice even temperature. You mustn’t dream of going upstairs.
LEONARD (surrendering). Well——
LATIMER. That’s right. Got everything you want? There are plenty of mirrors. Which period do you prefer? Queen Anne?
LEONARD. It’s all right, thanks.
[143]LATIMER. Good. Then I’ll leave you to it.
(He goes out. Standing in front of a glass on the wall, LEONARD applies the soap. His cheeks are just getting beautifully creamy when NICHOLAS enters.)
NICHOLAS. Hallo!