come and told you. I was so pleased and excited that I forgot.
I don't quite know why you should have been so excited.
It will be very nice for me to have Ronny so near. You see, now I've given up my flat I shan't come to Egypt very often and I should never have seen Ronny. I can run over to Paris constantly. Besides, it's a step, isn't it? And I want to see him an Ambassador before I die.
I don't see what good it will do him in Paris to speak Arabic like a native.
Oh, well, that is the F.O. all over. The best Persian scholar in the Service has spent the last six years in Washington.
It's been a great surprise for me. I expected to remain in Egypt indefinitely.
[Recovering herself.] I expect you'll have a very good time in Paris. When do you go?
There's a boat the day after to-morrow. Sir Arthur thought I'd better take that.
[Scarcely mistress of herself.] As soon as that! [Recovering, gaily.] We shall miss you dreadfully. I can't imagine what I shall do without you. [To Anne.] You can't think how useful he's been to me since I came here.
It's very kind of you to say so.
He's invaluable at functions and things like that. You see, he knows where everyone should sit at dinner. And at first he used to coach me with details about various people so that I shouldn't say the wrong thing.
If you had you'd have said it so charmingly that no one would have resented it.
I'm so afraid that the man who takes Ronny's place will refuse to write my invitations for me.
It's not exactly the duty of my secretaries.
No, but I do hate doing it myself. And Ronny was able to imitate my handwriting.
I'm sure he could never write as badly as you.
Oh, yes, he could. Couldn't you?
I managed to write quite enough like you for people not to notice the difference.
You know, there are thirty-two invitations to do now.
Why don't you send cards?
Oh, I think a letter is so much more polite. Somehow I don't feel old enough to ask people to dine with me in the third person.
I'll come and do them the moment Sir Arthur can let me go.
You'd better do them before Violet goes out.
That'll be very soon. The Khedive's mother has asked me to go and see her at half-past three. I'll get the list now, shall I? I don't think I'll wait for Christina. If she wants to see you on business I dare say she'd rather I wasn't there.
Very well.
[To Ronny.] Will you come here when you're ready?
Certainly.
[She goes out.]
Have you finished that report yet?
Not quite, sir. It will be ready in ten minutes.
Put it on my desk.
All right, sir.
[Exit. Arthur and Anne are left alone. He looks at her reflectively.]
Violet is very sensitive to anything that might be considered a slight.
It's very natural, isn't it? A high-spirited girl.
She likes me to tell her my arrangements. It gives her a little feeling of importance to know things before other people.
Oh, of course. I quite understand. I should do the same in her place.
I ought to have remembered and told her that Ronny was going. She was just a little vexed because she thought I'd been fixing things up behind her back.
Yes, I know. It would naturally put her out for a moment to learn on a sudden that one of the persons she'd been thrown in contact with was going away.
[With a twinkle in his eye.] I'm wondering if I must blame you for the loss of an excellent secretary.
Me?
I don't know why the F.O. should suddenly have made up their minds that your brother was wanted in Paris. Have you been pulling strings?
[Smiling.] What a suspicious nature you have!
Anne, own up.
I thought Ronny was getting into a groove here. There didn't seem to be much more for him to do than he has been doing for some time. If you will have the truth, I've been moving heaven and earth to get him moved.
How deceitful of you not to have said a word about it!
I didn't want to make him restless. I knew he'd be mad to go to Paris. I thought it much better not to say anything till it was settled.
D'you think he's mad to go to Paris?
[Fencing with him.] Any young man would be.
I wonder if he'd be very much disappointed if I made other arrangements.
What do you mean, Arthur? You wouldn't prevent him from going when I've done everything in the world to get him away.
[Abruptly.] Why should you be so anxious for him to go?
[She looks at him for an instant in dismay.]
Good heavens, don't speak so sharply to me. I told Violet just now. I wanted him to be more get-at-able. I think he stands a much better chance of being noticed if he's in a place like Paris.
[With a smile.] Ah, yes, you said you were coming less frequently to Egypt than in the past. It might be worth while to keep Ronny here in order to tempt you back.
Egypt isn't the same to me that it was.
I hope my marriage has made no difference
