LATIMER. There! Now, are we all here?... We are. Then with your permission, Ladies and Gentlemen, I will open the proceedings with a short speech.
NICHOLAS. Oh, I say, must you?
LATIMER. Certainly.
EUSTASIA (to LEONARD). Hush, dear.
LEONARD. I didn’t say anything.
EUSTASIA. No, but you were just going to.
LATIMER (severely). Seeing that I refrained from making my speech when Leonard had the thermometer in his mouth, the least he can do now is to listen in silence.
LEONARD. Well, I’m——
LATIMER. I resume.... By a fortunate concatenation of circumstances, ladies and gentlemen—or, as more illiterate men would say, by a bit of luck—two runaway couples have met under my roof. No need to mention names. You can all guess for yourselves. But I call now—this is the end of my speech, Leonard—I call now upon my noble friend on the right to tell us just why he left the devoted wife by his side in order to travel upon the Continent.
LEONARD. Well, really——