Colonel Lukyn and Captain Vale enter the room. Lukyn is a portly, grey-haired, good-looking military man; Vale is pale-faced and heavy-eyed, while his manner is languid and dejected.
Lukyn.
This is the room. Come in, Vale. This is my old supper-room—I haven’t set foot here for over twenty years. By George, I hope to sup here for another twenty.
Vale.
[Dejectedly.] Do you? In less than that, unless I am lucky enough to fall in some foreign set-to, I shall be in Kensal Green.
Lukyn.
[Looking round the room sentimentally.] Twenty years ago! Confound ’em, they’ve painted it.
Vale.
My people have eight shelves in the Catacombs at Kensal Green.