LEONARD (without opening his eyes). Yes, dear.
EUSTASIA. Very well. This is footnote 5. “Germanicus, Suetonius Paulinus and Agricola”—(she stumbles over the names)—“were checked and recalled in the course of their victories. Corbulo was put to [164]death.” Oh, what a shame! “Military merit, as it is admirably expressed by Tacitus, was, in the strictest sense of the word——” well, there are two words, and they are both in Latin. I suppose Tacitus wrote in Latin. But it doesn’t really matter, because it’s only a little footnote. (Anxiously) Are you liking the book, darling?
LEONARD. Very much, dear.
EUSTASIA. It’s nicely written, but I don’t think it’s very exciting. I don’t think Mr. Latimer has a very good taste in books. I asked him to recommend me something really interesting to read aloud, and he said that the two most interesting books he knew were Carlyle’s French Revolution and—and—(looking at the cover) Gibbon’s Roman Empire.... Fancy, there are four volumes of it and six hundred pages in a volume. We’re at page 3 now. (She reads a line or two to herself.) Oh, now, this is rather interesting, because it’s all about us. “The only accession which the Roman Empire received during the first century of the Christian era was the province of Britain.” Fancy! “The proximity of its situation to the coast of Gaul seemed to invite their arms, the pleasing though doubtful intelligence of a pearl fishery attracted their avarice.” And then there’s a little footnote—I suppose that’s to say it was Whitstable. (Getting to it) Oh no—“The British pearls proved, however, of little value, on account of their dark and livid colour.” How horrid. “Tacitus observes——” well, then, Tacitus says something again.... I wish he would write in English.... Now where was I? Something about the pearls. Oh yes. “After a war of about forty years”—good gracious!—“undertaken by the most stupid, maintained by the most dissolute, and——”
(NICHOLAS returns with his pipe.)
[165]NICHOLAS. Oh, sorry, I’m interrupting.
LEONARD (waking up). No, no. Eustasia was just reading to me. (To her) You mustn’t tire yourself, dear. (To NICHOLAS) Stay and talk.
NICHOLAS. What’s the book? Carlyle’s French Revolution?
EUSTASIA (primly). Certainly not. (Looking at the title again) Gibbon’s Roman Empire.
NICHOLAS. Any good?