ALLEN. (Shakes hands.) Oh, I be all right outside. (Rises, crosses to L.) Bean’t very spry inside, so I tell ’ee. (Explanatory of his dressing arrangements.) Just been having a quiet smoke, you know.
PURT. (With a smile.) And do you always undress to smoke?
ALLEN. (Laughing.) No—but I has to now when I want to sit down comfortable. (Continues to dress—brings wine down to table.) Have a glass of wine. I’m glad thee’ve come, I wur afraid from thy letter that thee wouldn’t.
PURT. (Sits in arm-chair l.) Well, it’s a very informal proceeding I’m bound to say—not at all professional.
ALLEN. Perhaps not, but it’s simple and straightforward like and maybe that’s as good. Have ’ee read the papers I sent thee?
PURT. Yes—most carefully—and they certainly make the story appear very plausible—very plausible, indeed. Have you said anything to your mother?
ALLEN. No—no, I thought I wouldn’t say a word to anybody until I was sure one way or t’other. (Sits L.)
PURT. Quite right—quite right. What sort of a man was he?
ALLEN. Blest if I could tell ’ee—I wur that taken aback I couldn’t tell ’ee what it wur, but thee’ll see him for theeself in a minute. I told Father Christmas to send him straight up when he comes.
PURT. (Looking at his watch.) Well, if he’s an impostor, he’ll hardly venture to come to a meeting of this kind.