Only too glad to help you in any little way.

MIRALDA

It was so kind of you.

JOHN

O, not at all.

[Silence for a bit.]

MIRALDA

I’ve nobody to help me.

JOHN

Er, er, haven’t you really?

MIRALDA

No, nobody.

JOHN

I’d be very glad to help you in any little way.

MIRALDA

I wonder if you could advise me.

JOHN

I—­I’d do my best.

MIRALDA

You see, I have nobody to advise me.

JOHN

No, of course not.

MIRALDA

I live with my aunt, and she doesn’t understand.  I’ve no father or mother.

JOHN

O, er, er, really?

MIRALDA

No.  And an uncle died and he left me a hundred thousand pounds.

JOHN

Really?

MIRALDA

Yes.  He didn’t like me.  I think he did it out of contrariness as much as anything.  He was always like that to me.

JOHN

Was he?  Was he really?

MIRALDA

Yes.  It was invested at twenty-five per cent.  He never liked me.  Thought I was too—­I don’t know what.

JOHN

No.

MIRALDA

That was five years ago, and I’ve never got a penny of it.

JOHN

Really.  But, but that’s not right.

Miralda [sadly]

No.

JOHN

Where’s it invested?

MIRALDA

In Al Shaldomir.

JOHN

Where’s that?

MIRALDA

I don’t quite know.  I never was good at geography.  I never quite knew where Persia ends.

JOHN