DAS Ah.

COOMARASWAMI Not at all, Miss Crewe?

FLORA Not at all.

COOMARASWAMI Oh … well, jolly good!

FLORA What has happened?

COOMARASWAMI Ah well, it is really of no interest. I am very sorry to have mentioned it. And we must leave you, it was not right to trouble you after all. Will you come, Mr Das?

FLORA I hope it is nothing to do with my lecture?

COOMARASWAMI (Getting up) Oh no! Certainly not!

DAS Nothing!

COOMARASWAMI Mr Das said we should not mention the thing, and how truly he spoke. I am sorry. Goodnight, Miss Crewe—

Coomaraswami shouts towards somebody distant, in Hindi, and the explanation is an approaching jingle of harness, horse and buggy; Coomaraswami goes off stage to meet it.

DAS I am coming, Mr Coomaraswami. Please wait for me a moment.

FLORA If you expect to be my friends, you must behave like friends and not like whatever-you-called-it. Tell me what has happened.

COOMARASWAMI (Off stage) Mr Das!

DAS (Shouts) Please wait!

FLORA Well?

DAS The Theosophical Society has been suspended, you see. The order came to Mr Coomaraswami’s house last night.

FLORA But why?

DAS Because of the disturbances in the town.

FLORA The riot?

DAS Yes, the riot.

FLORA I know about it. The Hindus wanted the Moslems to close their shops. What has that to do with the Theosophical Society?

COOMARASWAMI (Off stage) I am going, Mr Das!

DAS (Shouts) I come now! (To Flora) It is all bosh! The Theosophical Society is bosh! His Highness the Rajah is bosh! I must leave you, Miss Crewe. (He hesitates.) I think I will not be coming tomorrow. Do you mind if I fetch my painting away now?

FLORA I think that’s up to you, Mr Das. I put everything inside.

Das asks permission to put on the electric light.

DAS May I?

He starts gathering his possessions. Flora turns down the oil lamp.

FLORA I think I should leave tomorrow.

DAS Tomorrow?

FLORA I think I must. Every day seems hotter than the day before.

DAS Yes, you are right of course.

FLORA Mr Das, did you tell people I was ill?

DAS What do you mean?

FLORA That I came to India for my health?

COOMARASWAMI (More distant) I cannot wait, Mr Das!

DAS (Shouts) A moment! (To Flora) Why do you ask me that?

FLORA He is leaving you behind.

The horse and buggy are heard departing.

DAS I will walk, then.

FLORA It seems that everyone from the Rajah to the Resident knows all about me. I told no one except you. If I want people to know things, I tell them myself, you see. I’m sorry to mention it but if there’s something wrong between two friends I always think it is better to say what it is.

DAS Oh … my dear Miss Crewe … it was known to all long before you arrived in Jummapur. Mr Chamberlain’s letter said exactly why you were coming. This is how it is with us, I’m afraid. The information was not considered to be private, only something to be treated with tact.