maiden name?

Dunn. Yes! The Griffins of Brentford.

Tomp. (as if thinking, sitting on couch R.) Indeed! Unless I’m much mistaken, there was quite a scandal years ago about a Miss Griffin of Brentford, but that could not be your wife?

Dunn. No, but it might be Helen! And oh, if it were! Tompkins, if you could only find out for certain, and place me in possession of the facts——

Tomp. (on couch) I certainly can and will with pleasure. I think (bus.) she eloped with the coachman.

Enter Mary with trays, drinks, 3 glasses, Decanter, glass jug, with a little water in it, and exit R. C.

Dunn. Helen eloped! Eureka! I see the dawn of emancipation—Tompkins, do I look like a slave? (C.)

Tomp. (eyeing Dunn) No, I don’t see that you do!

Dunn. (C.) But I am—we all are—this is Uncle Tom’s Cabin; I’m Uncle Tom, and Helen Griffin is my Legree. (crosses L. of table) But provided with such a weapon, I could rear the standard of revolt and free our beloved home.

Dunn L. of table with decanter; Tompkins follows Dunn to R. of table.

Tomp. The intelligence shall be yours, (sits R. of table)

Dunn. The few of my own people that are left, I never see, never hear of. My own dear little sister Mabel has never been asked to visit us. The Griffin has never fixed her Basilisk eye on her, and apparently doesn’t want to.

Tomp. The attendant ills of married life! Ah! The women will never victimize me.

They drink.

Dunn. (sitting L. of table) Ah Tompkins! Don’t be too sure of that. You never know what it is that gives you indigestion, but you get it just the same.

Tomp. I shall never marry, if you mean that; I would not marry a modern, and I’m not likely to meet with an Antique.

Dunn. I’ve a Maiden Aunt; the one my Sister’s with, who is antique enough for anything.

Tomp. (interested) How far back does she go?

Dunn. Well, past the middle ages; she’s over sixty; but it’s the rarity of her that would attract you, Tompkins!

Tomp. (indignantly rising, going R.) Sir, I’m not forming a museum of curiosities, but a gallery of Art treasures.

Dunn. (rising) Yes! Of course! Are you going already?

Mary enters from C. and L. with trunk; Tompkins putting gloves on C.

Mary. (C.) Here’s a trunk, Sir, has been delivered for a Miss Mifton.

Dunn. Miss Mifton! Oh, the Governess’s trunk. She said it would be sent on. Leave it there, Mary. We’ll get it carried up bye and bye. I remember she said in her letter it would be sent on.

Mary places trunk near R. of C. doorway and goes to turn up lamp on stand below fireplace.

Dunn. Never mind the lamp, Mary; I’ll turn it up myself when I want it; (Mary exits C. and R.) I like to sit in the gloaming! What’s your hurry Tompkins? Sit down and take another drink.

Tomp. I am due at the Antiquarian Society. A discussion on what History owes to numismatics!

Dunn. Well, go and fix the amount and get History to settle up—Good evening! Mary! Oh! Good evening, Tompkins! (lights down low)

Mary appears C. and R., ushers Tompkins out L. C., then crosses to R. at back.

Dunn. (goes to Statue again, softly humming a tune) A pretty thing for our Company if that idiot had damaged his Statue with those infernal wires. Just like my beautiful sister-in-law, to give permission to wrap them round the figure, just to show that my wishes were of no account. I’ll get a staple and padlock to-morrow; and fasten that screen up like a packing case. (sits on sofa) I suppose the Electricity can’t affect the marble; ha! it’s such a mysterious agent, one never knows what it may do. P’raps I’d better light up. I wonder what’s the matter with the Electric lamps in the street? (crosses at front of table L. C. and looks out of window) They’re generally making the gas look sickly before this—must be something wrong this evening. Ah! There it goes! (flash on electric light outside window, flooding stage, Dunn sits L. of table L. C.) Well! That’s light enough to think by. (low moan; weird music begins) What’s that? (moan) Some Psychological phenomenon! An omen of some kind! (rising, towards window; Niobe extending her arms, pushes open screen and is seen moving, as if awakening to life; Dunn slowly turns) Great Heavens! The Statue’s alive!

Falls on knees at chair L. of table.

Nio. My feet! Oh, Amphion! Amphion!

Dunn. (looking at Statue) Is this nightmare? Am I dreaming?

Nio. My feet! This thrill! A liquid fire seems coursing through my veins. Ah!

As if bursting the spell steps down from pedestal, remains, making picture.

Dunn. No! No! It can’t be that—I don’t drink to that extent.