JOHN. In a sense. But I’m not to attend the meeting at Leeds. My speech doesn’t find favour. [With a strange humility] There’s something wrong with it.
COMTESSE. I never expected to hear you say that, Mr. Shand.
JOHN [wondering also]. I never expected it myself. I meant to make it the speech of my career. But somehow my hand seems to have lost its cunning.
COMTESSE. And you don’t know how?
JOHN. It’s inexplicable. My brain was never clearer.
COMTESSE. You might have helped him, Sybil.
SYBIL [quite sulkily]. I did.
COMTESSE. But I thought she was such an inspiration to you, Mr. Shand.
JOHN [going bravely to SYBIL’S side]. She slaved at it with me.
COMTESSE. Strange. [Wickedly becoming practical also] So now there is nothing to detain you. Shall I send for a fly, Sybil?