RAT. What?
POS. Nothing; the room was in total darkness, and the next instant I
found myself face to face with a gigantic housebreaker about seven
foot high, with two pair of pistols in each hand, and there, extended
upon the hearth rug, with her head on the fender lay my poor cousin in
a dead faint, and as pale as a sheet.
RAT. (_smiling_) But how the deuce did you manage to see all this when
the room was in total darkness?
POS. What of that? everybody knows that housebreakers are always as
pale as a sheet when they faint away; I mean women are always seven
feet high--no, housebreakers--really you interrupt me so I don't know
what I'm talking about.
RAT. (_smiling_) Well?
POS. Well, though I was unarmed, I instantly rushed upon the two
ruffians.
RAT. Two ruffians?
POS. Yes. I said there were two, who instantly made for the door,
which luckily I had taken the precaution of locking.
RAT. Locking! What the door you had just knocked clean off its hinges?
POS. Yes. I forgot to mention that in the meantime I had picked the
door up and hung it on again. Well, finding they couldn't escape, they
both sprang upon me at the same time! The fearful struggle then began
afresh, till exhausted nature could do no more, and the whole three of
us rolled out of the window together. But here comes my cousin!
(_running to door, L._)
RAT. Then, as I said before, impudence befriend me.
POS. (_handing in MRS. SOMERTON_) Come along, cousin, I told you I'd
soon have my friend the superintendent here. Captain Ratcliffe, my
cousin. My cousin, Captain Ratcliffe. (_introducing them. MRS.
SOMERTON curtseys to RATCLIFFE, and on looking at him gives a very
slight start, while RATCLIFFE continues to show the utmost sang
froid_) And now, cousin, the sooner you give him all the particulars.
Why, what's the matter with you? (_observing how MRS. SOMERTON is
examining RATCLIFFE_)
MRS. S. Nothing. Doubtless I am mistaken. Yet, I am under the
impression that this is not the first time----
RAT. That we have met? madam, if so, I am ashamed to say that I have
forgotten the circumstance. (_crosses to C._)
MRS. S. (_aside_) The voice too--pshaw--impossible!
RAT. Now, madam, as every moment is of the utmost importance you must
be good enough to answer a few questions. In the first place how the
entrance to the house was effected by the robbers. (_taking out his
pocket book and pencil._)
MRS. S. Robbers!--there was only one.
RAT. Only one! (_to POSTLETHWAITE_) I understood you to say there
were--
POS. (_interrupting him_) Yes, yes. (_aside to him_) Of course, she
doesn't know how many there were, because as soon as she saw _one_ she
fainted.