Produced by Paul Haxo from page images generously made available by the University of California, the HathiTrust Digital Library, and Google. A DESPERATE GAME. A Comic Drama. IN ONE ACT. BY JOHN MADDISON MORTON, (Member of the Dramatic Authors' Society), AUTHOR OF 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. ----- Costumes. 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. DAVID.--Old fashioned livery. MRS. SOMERTON.--Green tarletan ball dress, trimmed with ribbon and flowers. PEGGY.--Old fashioned housekeeper's dress. SCENE--_Tunbridge Wells._ _Time in Representation--55 minutes._ A DESPERATE GAME. ----- 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._)