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BY JOHN MADDISON MORTON, (Member of the Dramatic Authors' Society),
Box and Cox, John Dobbs, The Woman I Adore, A Capital Match, Your Life's in Danger, Who Stole the Pocket Book? Poor Pillicoddy, Friend Waggles, Where there's a Will there's a Way, The Writing on the Wall, Betsy Baker, Going to the Derby, My precious Betsy, Slasher and Crasher, The Two Bonnycastles, &c., &c.
THOMAS HAILES LACY, WELLINGTON STREET, STRAND, LONDON.
_First performed at the Theatre Royal Adelphi, on Saturday, April 9th, 1853._
Characters. CAPTAIN RATCLIFFE MR. LEIGH MURRAY. MR. PERCY POSTLETHWAITE MR. KEELEY. DAVID MR. ROGERS. MRS. SOMERTON MISS WOOLGAR. PEGGY MRS. LAWS.
CAPTAIN RATCLIFFE.--Green coat, gilt buttons, light waistcoat, black trowsers, with over coat, whiskers, and moustache to take off.
POSTLETHWAITE.--Light drab trowsers, fancy waistcoat, blue shooting coat, green wide-awake. _Second dress:_ Same, muddy.
MRS. SOMERTON.--Green tarletan ball dress, trimmed with ribbon and flowers.
PEGGY.--Old fashioned housekeeper's dress.
SCENE I.--_A Drawing Room at Mrs. Somerton's; a fire-place at C. with a bell rope on each side of it; doors R. C. and L. C.; above the door R. C. a small window; window R. 2 E.; a clock on the mantel-piece; a work table L., on which is a writing desk; another table in C. of the stage, with papers, books, &c. strewed on it; chairs, &c., &c.; another door at R. 2 E. Stage dark. A loud ringing at door bell heard._
RAT. (_outside_) Now then, my good friend, a little quicker, if you please. (_enters at door, L. C., in over coat, whiskers, and moustache; he is closely followed by DAVID, who carries a lantern_)
DAVID. But, zur, zur, don't ye be in such a hurry.
RAT. (_throwing a hasty look round the room, then--aside_) Come, I've effected an entrance, at all events! so far, so well, provided I'm not compelled to beat a retreat before I've accomplished my object. (_walks to various parts of room, examining, &c., &c._)
DAVID. (_all this time examining RATCLIFFE from head to foot with his lantern--aside_) Well, this be about the free and easiest chap I ever cut in with; he almost pulls the gate bell down to begin with, and when I opens the door--thinking in course it's missus come home--in he walks, and without so much as rubbing his boots on the door mat, tells me to light him up stairs, at four o'clock in the morning, too. (_aloud_) Who be ye, zur? I know it don't become a servant to be inquisitive--so if you'll only tell me who ye be, what ye be, why you come here, what you want here, where you come from, and a few other _particklers_, I'll be satisfied and ask no questions.