No, don't shake hands. I'm in a hurry. (_He looks
at his watch again and goes out hurriedly by the door on the_ R.)
(TREMAYNE _sits on settee_ R. _and_ BAXTER _on chair_ R.
_of_ C. _table. He puts his hat on the table_.)
TREMAYNE. Unusual man, your friend Devenish. I suppose it comes of being
a poet.
BAXTER. I have no great liking for Mr. Devenish--
TREMAYNE. Oh, he's all right.
BAXTER. But I am sure that if he is impressed by anything outside
himself or his own works, it must be something rather remarkable. Pray
tell me of your adventure with the lion.
TREMAYNE (_laughing_). Really, you mustn't think that I go about
telling everybody my adventures. It just happened to come up. I'm afraid
I shook his hand rather more warmly than I meant, and he asked me if I'd
ever tried strangling lions. That was all.
BAXTER. And had you?
TREMAYNE. Well, it just happened that I had.
BAXTER. Indeed! You came off scatheless, I trust?
TREMAYNE (_carelessly indicating his arm_). Well, he got me one
across there.
BAXTER (_rising and coming to above_ TREMAYNE, _obviously
excited_). Really, really.
Pages:
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80