PIKE (Implausibly) This is fine.

DILIP The tie, on the other hand, is tip-top, Jummapur Cricket Club. My friend Mr Balvinder Lal keeps a small stock on the premises. I spared you the blazer.

Pike obligingly starts putting on the striped tie.

PIKE Do you mean you can’t come in here without a jacket and tie, not ever?

DILIP Not in the dining-room after sunset. Oh these rules are absurd! But—Eldon—something wonderful has come of it. I have discovered the name of your painter!

PIKE You have?

DILIP I have! His name was Nirad Das. Now we can research!

PIKE But Dilip—but that’s—how did you—?

DILIP It was God. If you had been wearing a jacket we would still be in the dark. But in borrowing the jacket, you see—oh, don’t think that I discuss your affairs—it only seemed, shall I say, tactical to point out your distinction—

PIKE Dilip, never mind about that—

DILIP Nor, for that matter, was the owner of the jacket indulging in impertinent curiosity about your private business, I assure you—actually, I know him well, he is an Old Soldier, formerly in the 6th Rajputana Rifles—

PIKE Dilip—please!

DILIP He remembers the English lady who stayed in the dak house.

PIKE Who remembers?

DILIP The owner of this jacket.

PIKE He … he remembers … ? But are you sure it was the same—?

DILIP Oh yes—he saw Miss Crewe having her portrait painted.

PIKE (When he recovers) l have to talk to him.

DILIP Of course. After dinner we will—

PIKE After dinner? He could die while I’m eating! Where is he? Ask him to have dinner with us.

DILIP Oh, that is not possible, you see.

PIKE Why not?

DILIP He would not like that. Anyway, he does not have a jacket.

PIKE We’re getting off the point there—

DILIP Also, he is working now.

PIKE What, he works here?

DILIP Exactly. He works here. He is in charge of supervising the cloakroom.

PIKE Well, that’s wonderful. Show me the way.

DILIP Eldon, please be guided by me. We will not rush at the fences in the lavatory. (Dilip points at the ribbons on Pike’s breast.) One of these is the ribbon for ‘39 to ‘45. This one, I think, is the Burma Star. He is without one leg. He has no sons. He has three daughters, two of them unmarried and to marry the third he sold his army pension and secured for himself a job which is cleaning toilets. Tomorrow there is time, there is reflection, there is … esteem … We can take a cup of tea together on the maidan and talk of old times. Believe me.

PIKE Esteem. If he dies I’ll kill you.

DILIP (Laughs) He will not die. Let me go and see if our table’s ready. Oh, how terrible—! with all this excitement I have not offered you an aperitif.

PIKE What’s his name, Dilip?

DILIP Mr Ram Sunil Singh, formerly Subadar, B Company, 6th Rajputana Rifles.