R. C.)

RAT. Come, I’ve got you safe under lock and key, my worthy friend, whoever you are, and now not another moment must be lost. (advances towards the writing desk quickly, L. table)

MRS. S. (without) Don’t be alarmed, David, I forgot to say I had taken the latch key with me.

RAT. Mrs. Somerton’s voice, and no means of escape! Then impudence befriend me! (hurries into room, R.)

Enter MRS. SOMERTON and PEGGY at door, L. U. E.

PEGGY. (who carries a small lantern in her hand, which she places on table) Dear, dear, how my poor old bones do ache.

MRS. S. (throws off her cloak and hood, and appears in a handsome ball costume) Now go to bed at once, my good Peggy, I don’t require you any more.

PEGGY. Yes you do, so sit down there—(making MRS. SOMERTON sit down on a chair)—and now, while I’m taking all these gimcracks and finery out of your hair, you shall tell me all about the grand doings at the ball. I warrant me, what the colonel’s footmen said of you was quite true.

MRS. S. And pray what did the colonel’s footmen say?

PEGGY. They said—— Drat the pin! They said you were the most beautiful lady in the room—that you had handsomer partners than any lady in the room.

MRS. S. Yes—to do them, justice, they fairly danced me off my feet, and yet I am neither grown better tempered, nor better looking, than I was three months ago, when at a previous party not one of them condescended to select me for a partner; but then, on the other hand, I am fifteen thousand pounds richer.

PEGGY. (suddenly, and giving MRS. SOMERTON’S hair another jerk) That’s it! Ah, ma’am, these lords of the creation, as they call themselves, are but a poor mean selfish set after all.

MRS. S. Selfish! No, not all—(sighing)—there is one at least.

PEGGY. No! Is there?—he must be quite a curiosity! Oh, ma’am, who is he?

MRS. S. It’s a long story, Peggy, and it’s getting late.

PEGGY. It’s never too late to hear good news.

MRS. S. Then listen, Peggy. You remember that about ten months ago I was earnestly advised by my physicians to pay a short visit to the continent.

PEGGY. Yes; and I remember too that you came home quite an altered woman—I never saw hair dressed in such an extraordinary style—never!

MRS. S. Don’t interrupt me. I had been in Paris about three weeks, when one evening on my return from the opera, I found a note on my dressing table, containing these words—“I have seen you, and to see you is to love you. I am young, tolerably handsome, and sufficiently rich, yet as I cannot presume to present myself to you until you permit me to do so, I shall venture to remind you from time to time that I am near you.”

PEGGY. Well I’m sure, Mr. Impudence; and what was the fellow’s name?

MRS. S. There was no name, but merely the initials C. R.

PEGGY. C. R. Samuel something or other I dare say—but he gave his address?

MRS. S. No; simply the words “Post Office, to be left till called for.” Of course, I took no notice of it whatever, and had forgotten the circumstance altogether, when a month afterwards to the very day—the very hour—I was then at Florence, I received a second communication, couched in precisely the same words, and again subsequently at Venice, Naples, and Milan.

PEGGY. Dear, dear, it’s as good as a play! Then you never took any notice of the fellow at all?

MRS. S. Yes; a circumstance, the bare recollection of which makes me shudder even at this lapse of time, compelled me to break through the silence I had hitherto imposed upon myself: in travelling through Switzerland, on my return to England, the carriage which I occupied was one night placed in imminent peril by the restiveness of one of the horses; fortunately, I was asleep, and was not aware of my danger till I was assured of my safety—within a few feet of a fearful precipice, the traces had been cut, by a man who had evidently followed me, judge then of my astonishment when a voice uttered these words in my ear, “You see, madam, I have kept my promise, I am still near you.”

PEGGY. Well, he was a fine brave gentleman, whoever he was; and what was he like—eh?

MRS. S. He had disappeared before I could even thank him for his timely and generous assistance.

PEGGY. Well?

MRS. S. Well? (hesitatingly) his next letter, which reached me shortly after my return to England, did not remain unanswered.

PEGGY. I should think not, indeed! and what did you say to Mr. C. R.?

MRS. S. The truth! that my hand was promised to my cousin, Percy Postlethwaite; that his father had once saved mine from ruin, who made me promise, as the only means of testifying his gratitude to the father, to marry the son.

PEGGY. Ah! and that, of course, was a settler for Mr. C. R.

MRS. S. On the contrary, his answer to my letter ran thus:—“Love like mine never despairs. I will still be near you, for I still hope”—and yet for the last two months he has ceased to write.

PEGGY. Of course he has! and high time, too, considering you told him you were Mrs. Postlethwaite, as was to be.

MRS. S. Very true; and yet (after a slight hesitation) no matter, go to bed, Peggy. Good night.

PEGGY. Good night, ma’am. (taking the lantern—aside) Luckily when Master Percy arrives he’ll put all this romantic lackadaisical nonsense out of missus’s head.

Exit at door, L. C.

MRS. S. Yes, while the news of my recent accession to fortune has brought so many admirers to my feet, he, on the contrary, has ceased to think of me.

(MRS. S. seats herself in chair near the work table, L.; RATCLIFFE at the same moment enters and cautiously goes to door, L. C., which he closes. The stage is only dimly lighted)

MRS. S. (hearing the noise of the door closing, and without turning round, as she unclasps her bracelets) Is that you again, Peggy? (not receiving an answer, she turns and sees RATCLIFFE; starts violently, and checking a scream) A man!

RAT. (L.) Do not be alarmed, madam, I beg. (advancing slowly)

MRS. S. (retreating, and in a tone of alarm which she endeavours to repress) Who are you, sir? and why this unseasonable intrusion? I insist on knowing.

RAT. A little patience, my dear madam, and you shall. (observing MRS. SOMERTON, who endeavours to reach the door, L. C.) One moment, madam. Before you summon your servants, allow me to observe that I shall be under the painful necessity of punishing any one who presumes to interrupt so delightful a tete à tete. (slowly taking his pistols from his pocket, and depositing them on the table)

MRS. S. (terrified and aside) He’s armed. (suddenly) Ah! that writing desk—that large sum of money—(placing herself before the table on which the writing desk is, and supporting herself with difficulty)

RAT. Now, madam, (crosses to R. with chair) the sooner I explain the object of this somewhat unceremonious visit, the better. Will you allow me to lead you to a chair? (politely offering his hand to MRS. SOMERTON, who draws back in alarm) Pray, my dear madam let me once more entreat you not to be alarmed. (MRS. SOMERTON after a slight hesitation, gives him her hand, and he leads her to the chair near table, at C.) Be seated, I beg. (MRS. SOMERTON seats herself. RATCLIFFE about to remove up for another chair, MRS. SOMERTON advancing her hand towards the pistol—stops) Pray be cautious with those pistols, madam; they are hair triggers, and I perceive the muzzles are directly pointed towards you. (goes up to the back for a chair)

MRS. S. (aside and suddenly) If I could but distinguish his features, so as to be able to recognise him. (hastily runs and brings candle from the small table at L., and places it on table before her)

RAT. (coming down with the chair, R.—stops) You’ll pardon me, madam, but having suffered lately from a severe cold in my eyes, this excess of light would be positively distressing to me. (removes the candle to the mantel-piece, L.; then about to seat himself opposite to MRS. SOMERTON) Have I your permission, madam? I thank you! (seats himself)

MRS. S. (aside) Was there ever such unblushing effrontery?

RAT. Now, madam, I will come to the point at once. I am in the immediate want of fifteen thousand pounds. (with marked intention)

MRS. S. (aside) He knows all.

RAT. Which sum, madam, I intend to invest in a speculation, which promises the most advantageous results.

MRS. S. (with affected unconcern) I cannot understand, sir, how the subject you allude to can possibly interest me.

RAT. More than you imagine, my dear madam, for I propose that you shall become my partner in this speculation; in other words, I will find the industry and energy requisite in carrying it into effect, while you simply have to provide the money. (with marked emphasis)

MRS. S. (indignantly) Sir!

RAT. That’s all! I’ll therefore make out a receipt for the amount at once. (taking a piece of paper, and beginning to write)

MRS. S. (aside, and looking towards the back of the stage) That bell communicates with David’s room; it is my only hope. (cautiously rises from her chair, and goes on tiptoe towards the chimney-piece)

POS. (appearing at little window above door at R. C.) I should very much like to know who has taken the liberty of locking me in! I repeat, who has taken the liberty of locking me in? I pause for a reply.

MRS. S. (looking at RATCLIFFE, who pretends to be writing, but is watching her movements—then making a sudden grasp at the bell rope) Ah! the bell rope cut!

RAT. (quietly looking up) Yes, true! I quite forgot to mention that I had taken that little precaution against interruption. (resumes his writing)

POS. (listening) Holloa! Either cousin Somerton has got a very bad cold, or she’s not alone!

RAT. Here, madam, is the receipt. (rising)

POS. That’s a man’s voice!

RAT. And now, madam, the necessary forms being completed on my part, all that remains is for you to find the funds; amounting, as I believe I mentioned before, to the sum of fifteen thousand pounds.

MRS. S. (forcing a laugh) And do you imagine I could be imprudent enough to keep so large a sum of money——?

RAT. On your person? Oh, dear no; that would be an indiscretion for which, as your partner, I should certainly take the liberty of scolding you.

POS. What’s that? he says he’s my wife’s partner! I never even knew she was in business.

RAT. Until you could deposit it with your banker’s, you have, doubtless, placed it somewhere under lock and key; but as you seem to have forgotten the exact locality, I shall be most happy to assist you in your search. Suppose we begin with the writing desk. (placing his hand on the desk) Will you oblige me with the key?

POS. The fellow’s a housebreaker!

MRS. S. I—I have mislaid or lost it, sir: at least, I think I have.

RAT. Pray think again, my dear madam, as it would be really a pity to damage so elegant a piece of furniture.

POS. No—he’s a smasher! It’s lucky for him I can’t get at him.

MRS. S. (suddenly, and with resolution) Sir, although alone, and in the power of a desperate man like you, I will not be plundered except by violence.

POS. That’s right, cousin—stick to that! She’s a trump!

RAT. (approaching her as she leans against table in C., and in a tone of reproach) Violence to a woman, and such a woman! (bowing)

POS. Humbug!

RAT. I see you mistake me, madam, I came here to serve you—to propose to you a safe and profitable