STELLA. It doesn’t seem to like being nipped.
JACK. In the interests of science I’m going to bleed it. (_Loud
groans._) Give me a carving knife. (_Groans._)
(_MRS. ANDERSON has entered and come down--sees WALTER, screams. They
start._)
MRS. ANDERSON. The gent I does for came down the other stair from the
bedroom (_pointing L._) and is in the kitchen premises at this here
identical period of time.
JACK. What! _Is_ he?
MRS. ANDERSON. Here have I been a-doing for two twins at the price of
one.
JACK (_bustles MRS. ANDERSON to D. in F._). Send Mr. Everest up at
once! (_Exit MRS. ANDERSON._)
JACK. Now to make an end of this fiend!
(_WALTER, who has been watching them as well as he could, now pretends
to be dead._)
Hullo! I don’t think I’ll want any instruments, it’s passing away!
(_Business._) Not breathing! (_Looks at watch._) It’s eyes are closed.
Oh! it’s run down. I believe we’d be quite safe to unbind it. Just help
me with this rope. Let it pass away quietly on the sofa. There is
something pathetic even in the death of a doll.
(_They unbind WALTER and raise him, he opens his eyes and bounds upon
JACK--commotion._)
Confound it, it’s living again!
(_STELLA runs in room R., JACK runs in room L._)
WALTER (_as JACK looks in L., and STELLA looks in R._). I say! (_They
at once withdraw._) Jack! Stella! (_Heads appear again._) I say! Jack!
(_Heads disappear._) Come out, you bounder! (_Heads appear._) Why are
you making such idiots of yourselves?
JACK (_coming in_). Who are you?
WALTER. Walter Everest.
JACK. The other fellow said that.
WALTER. I _am_ the other fellow.
JACK. Then I’ve let the automaton escape!
WALTER. Escape?
JACK. _It_ must be in the kitchen now!
WALTER. I have a particularly heavy poker in my room, I’ll just fetch
it.
JACK. And then?