MRS. S. And this for me! Oh, how kind of you, Cousin; but pray mind how you get down! POS. Don't be alarmed; it's a precious deal easier than getting up! besides I know every inch of the road; so good bye, cousin, and in my way to my friend the superintendent, I'll knock up all the neighbours and tell them to scour the country; we'll find your fifteen thousand pounds again for you. (_gets quite out and gradually disappears_) So don't give way--keep up as I do. Oh, lud. (_suddenly disappears altogether--loud noise of broken glass heard_) MRS. S. He's fallen! (_calling out of window_) Cousin! cousin! POS. (_from without_) It's all right. I've only tumbled into a cucumber frame or something of the sort. I can have the bits of glass taken out of me when I get back. MRS. S. (_looking out_) There he runs, but he's without his hat! (_calling aloud_) Cousin! cousin! you've dropped your hat! he doesn't hear me. PEGGY. (_without at door, L. C._) Missus--missus, the door's locked. (_unlocks door and runs in followed by DAVID, both have their night-caps on, and DAVID carries an old fashioned blunderbuss_) Oh, ma'am, what's all this noise about--what does it all mean? DAVID. Ees, what do it all mean? MRS. S. It means, my poor Peggy, that I have been robbed. PEGGY. Robbed, but not murdered, I hope. MRS. S. (_smiling_) No, not quite, though I am almost dead with alarm! David, have you seen no one? DAVID. No, ma'am--no one but your cousin, master Percy, who arrived about half an hour before you came home. MRS. S. Yes, yes, I know; but there was another. DAVID. Then I didn't let _him_ in, and I know he can't have gone out again without my seeing him. (_aside_) To be sure I've been fast asleep all the time. MRS. S. Then perhaps he's still in the house? PEGGY. Lud a mercy! (_getting behind DAVID, who in his turn tries to get behind PEGGY_) DAVID. (_suddenly as he looks towards window, R. in flat_) Look, ma'am, if there ben't Sergeant Jones of the rural police riding along the lane at the bottom of the garden. (_running to window and shouting_) Here, Sergeant Jones, stop--he hears me, ma'am. MRS. S. This is fortunate indeed; so run, David, and give him information of the robbery; tell him that he may rely on the most liberal reward. (_DAVID about to run off_) and, David, tell him also, should he discover any clue, that he must communicate with his superintendent here--that I expect him every moment; run, David. (_DAVID runs off at L. C._) and you, Peggy, go down stairs and be ready to open the door; I will go to my room for a few minutes. PEGGY. Do, ma'am; it'll do you good to lie down a bit; it's broad day-light--just till Mr. Superintendent comes. (_MRS. SOMERTON enters her room, L._) PEGGY. (_looking after her_) Poor missus--she's lost all her treasures except me. _Exit at door, L. C._ POS. (_without_) I tell you it's all right, so come along. RAT. (_without_) But, my dear fellow--