(_EUCLID and FANNY run to window._
EUCLID. What is afloat?
RECK. Oh--h--h--I'm going! There was something wrong about that
wine--oh--wrong--very wrong--poison--wine--bad wine--poison! (_falls
senseless on the sofa. EUCLID and FANNY stare._)
FANNY. (_rubs her eyes._) What does this mean?
EUCLID. It means there's another victim. Oh, Fanny!
FANNY. Oh, sir!
EUCLID. (_smells._) There is something wrong in this wine.
FANNY. (_sobs._) Oh--h--h! Now I shall be hanged!
EUCLID. In all human probability. You have got two strings to your
bow. So shall I. What makes you pitch upon me for an accomplice?
FANNY. It was a mistake--oh--h!
EUCLID. But yours are such confounded mistakes. There's Mr. Basket in
the river--Reckless is here poisoned--you and I shall be hanged--that
makes four. We shall have seriously diminished the population.
FANNY. He had no business to want wine.
EUCLID. Dissipated wretch, to drink wine, except after dinner! How
intrusive to call on me--I did not ask him.
FANNY. What shall we do with him? Throw him out of the window after
Mr. Basket? Oh--
EUCLID. There are half a dozen boats passing. (_a double knock._) Oh,
there's a knock--they'll come up stairs!
FANNY. Oh, I shall faint!
EUCLID. At this crisis, stupid, thick headed girl! you must not faint
at this crisis--I want all your assistance. Lock the door. (_she locks
R. door._) We'll let him fall into the well of the sofa. (_they do so,
by pulling the mattress from under him. VOICES heard outside._)
HOLDFAST. (_without--knocking, R._) Euclid! Euclid!
MRS. FACILE. (_without, R._) Euclid! Euclid, my love!
FANNY. Oh dear, how heavy!
EUCLID. And there they are outside. There, put the mattress--that's
right--oh! Now I'll let them in.
FANNY. But Mrs. Facile must not find me locked up with you. You know
of what a queer turn of mind she is.
EUCLID. Well, here--(_takes cover off globe, and puts it on her head.
Takes up book._)
HOLD. }
} Euclid! Euclid!
MRS. F. }
EUCLID. (_opens R. door._) Well, come in.
_Enter MR. HOLDFAST and MRS. FACILE, R._
MRS. F. Well sir, you hear us at last.
EUCLID. At last!--what did you call more than once, dear?
MRS. F. Once, indeed! we thought you had lost your hearing.
HOLD. Yes, and the door locked. The lady began to grow jealous. She
thought some one else might be locked in. Never mind, says I, there's
no murder going on.
MRS. F. But what were you doing, eh, dear?
EUCLID. Studying, to be sure--a new subject--how to make bodies occupy
the smallest space. Don't you see my book?
MRS. F. Yes, I see a book--upside down.
EUCLID. Eh? ahem! Ah, my dear, when you are so used to reading as I
am, you won't care which way a book stands.
MRS. F. And what's the matter?--you look as pale as a ghost.
EUCLID. Ghost!
HOLD. Ha! ha! ha! talking about ghosts, I expect my friend Fable. You
will be delighted with Fable--a strange fellow, who thinks a legend is
attached to every house--a firm believer in ghosts, goblins, and all
sorts of curiosities--and no wonder, for he himself is a greater
curiosity than all he believes in. But I hope we have not interrupted
your studies? We want your decision on a geographical discussion. I
maintain that Petersburgh is sixty degrees, north latitude--
MRS. F. Sixty-one and a half, my dear sir.