Das prepares to remove the canvas from the easel.

FLORA Why don’t you leave the canvas too? It will be quite safe.

DAS (Hesitates) Yes, all right … I have a drape for it. Thank you.

He drapes a cloth over the canvas on the easel.

FLORA Like shutting up the parrot for the night.

DAS There we are. Thank you for the lemonade, Miss Crewe. An absolute treat. I promise you! Goodbye, sir—and—yes—and until tomorrow …

He goes down the verandah steps and wheels his bicycle away.

FLORA Yes … goodbye! (To Durance) I’ll put my shoes on. Sorry about my toes, but I like to wriggle them when I’m working.

DURANCE I’ll only stay a moment. My chief asked me to look in. Just to make sure there’s nothing we can do for you.

FLORA Would you like some lemonade?

DURANCE No, nothing for me. Really. We might have found you more comfortable quarters, you know, not quite so in-the-town.

FLORA How did you know I was here?

DURANCE Now, there’s a point. Usually we know of arrivals because the first thing they do is drop in a card but in your case … rumours in the bazaar, so to speak. Are you an old hand here, Miss Crewe?

FLORA No, I’ve never been to India before. I came up from Bombay just a few days ago.

DURANCE But you have friends here, perhaps?

FLORA No. I got on a ship and I came, knowing no-one. I have friends in England who have friends here. Actually, one friend.

DURANCE In Jummapur, this friend?

FLORA No—the friend—my friend—is in London, of course; Mr Joshua Chamberlain. His friends are in different places in Rajputana, and I will also be going to Delhi and then up to the Punjab, I hope.

DURANCE Now I see. And your friend in London has friends in Jummapur.

FLORA Yes.

DURANCE Like Mr Das?

FLORA No. Are you a policeman of some kind. Mr Durance?

DURANCE Me? No. I’m sorry if I sound like one.

FLORA Well, you do a bit. I’m travelling with letters of introduction to a number of social clubs and literary societies. I speak on the subject of ‘Literary Life in London’, in return for board and lodging … So you see I couldn’t have taken advantage of your kindness without giving offence to my hosts.

DURANCE The game is different here. By putting up at the Residency you would have gained respect, not lost it.

FLORA Thank you, but what about self-respect?

DURANCE Well … as long as all is well. So you are following in Chamberlain’s footsteps. All is explained.

FLORA I don’t think I explained it. But yes, I am. He spoke in Jummapur three years ago, on the subject of Empire.

DURANCE Yes. Is he a good friend?

FLORA Well …

DURANCE Did you know he was some sort of Communist?

FLORA I thought he might be. He stood twice for Parliament as the Communist candidate.

DURANCE (Unoffended, pleasant as before) I amuse you. That’s all right, amusing our distinguished visitors is among my duties.