BETSY. Oh, sir! oh, sir! my poor mistress--my poor dear mistress!---- GREEN. What of her, Betsy? BKTSY. It's a shocking story, sir, but there's no use concealing it--the young gentleman you quarrelled with was my mistress's cousin--little Charley Bates that you've often heard her speak of. GREEN. Her cousin! (_GREENFINCH jumps up; MRS. G. then slips from under the cloak, places the carpet bag in the chair, covers it with the cloak, and enters the room, R. on tip toe_) Little Charley?--no-o? BETSY. Yes, indeed, sir, when you sent me out of the room, I made bold to listen; and hearing you both agree to fight a duel, I ran and told my mistress. GREEN. Proceed, Betsy, proceed! BETSY. Well, sir, though you had behaved shocking to her, she tried to prevent mischief; but, la, sir, she had only reached that door (_points to door, 2 E. L._) and was trying to see what was going forward between you, when bang bang goes two pistols, and a bullet went right through the keyhole into my mistress's eye. GREEN. Betsy, support me! (_leans on her_) Her eye! BETSY. With her last breath she sent you her blessing, sir, and the key of the tea caddy. (_gives him a small key_) GREEN. Sweet, careful martyr! BETSY. What a shock this will be to poor Master Charley, sir. GREEN. Hush, Betsy, nothing can shock him now; I confide the secret to your faithful bosom--he's dead! BETSY. Dead! you havn't gone and shot him too--poor fellow! GREEN. (_solemnly_) Betsy, we have all our destinies! it's my fate to be an involuntary monster. I'm pursued by a female demon! (_MRS. G. assuming the voice of the Countess, and speaking inside, R._) MRS. G. (_inside_) Grinfeench! Grinfeench! GREEN. Ha! she's there again--the Countess--the demon--she calls me! (_crosses to door, R., and locks it_) Ah! I've locked her in, and now to bolt to the antipodes! (_a loud knocking at door, 3 E. L._) What's that? OFFICER. (_outside_) Open in the name of the law! GREEN. The law! Then it's all over with me!--open the door, Betsy! (_BETSY opens the door, 3 E. L._) _Enter a GENDARME, 3 E. L._ OFF. Your name is Greenfinch? GREEN. Gregory Greenfinch is my name, England is my nation---- OFF. Silence! I am in pursuit of---- GREEN. The Countess de Rambuteau? OFF. Right! I see you know her. I arrest you as her accomplice! BETSY. And I charge him with being the murderer of his innocent wife and her cousin. GREEN. Under extenuating circumstances. I protest---- OFF. Silence, criminal! Let search be made for his victims. (_points to door, R._) GREEN. Stop!--she's there--the demon--don't---- (_BETSY opens the door, R., and MRS. G. comes out in her proper dress; GREENFINCH drops his head on the GENDARME'S shoulder_) My last moment is come! MRS. G. (_in the assumed voice of the Countess_) Hem! vat is all dis, my dear Grinfeench? you can answer for me that I'm your wife. Am I not your wife?