Cæsar's Wife: A Comedy in Three Acts

by W. Somerset Maugham

[Smiling.] You're much too sensible to refuse a perfectly reasonable request.

Arthur.

Let us hear it. [She sits down on the sofa. The cushions have been disordered by people sitting on them and she shakes them out, and pats them and arranges them in their place.] I wish you'd leave the furniture alone, Christina.

Christina.

I cannot make out what pleasure people take in seeing things out of their proper place.

Arthur.

You're very long in coming to the point.

Christina.

I hear that the Khedive has quarrelled with his secretary.

Arthur.