HORACE. Minnie! Minnie! How dare he mention her name? Of course she couldn’t possibly have anything to do with him. But it did give me a turn. Poor devil, I suppose I was rather rough on him. Never mind, serves him right. I dare say he deserved it. Anyhow, it will prevent him coming back again to-morrow. (_About to drink._) Confound him, he has used my glass! (_Fetches another from table L._) It seems to me I am curiously unlucky. I can’t think why people are so unfair to me. I’m such a good sort. I don’t know anyone who has a better temper or a more generous, open disposition. I expect that is the secret of it. (_Puts whiskey, glasses and biscuits on small table above fireplace._) Other people are so mean, and selfish, and unfair. (_Sits in armchair._) Now let me get on with it. (_Reads “Astronomer.”_) Where was I? Ah, yes, here we are. (_Reads._) “Latest observations have revealed strange lights which some astronomers believe to be signals put out in the hope of an answer from Earth.” I don’t believe a word of it. It may be possible, though. If Mars is inhabited, I wonder what they are like. Are they savages, or are they ahead of us? (_Lamp flickers a little._) Confound it! The lamp’s going out. Minnie never told her. Forgets all about a poor fellow left alone in the dark. Most selfish of her. (_Turns over page and reads by firelight as lamp fails more and more._) Ah, just the end. (_Reads._) “The advent of a messenger or an army from Mars should not seem to us of the twentieth century a greater marvel than did the shining sails of Columbus to the aborigines of America. What an unfolding of wisdom would their coming yield. What problems could they solve, what new ones set us. The mind fails in contemplation. Too vast—vast.” (_Lamp goes out. HORACE falls asleep. Enter A MESSENGER FROM MARS._) (N.B. _If the lamp has the classical figure suggested, this will now be removed while the stage is dark and a proportionately larger one substituted in which an actor takes the place of the small figure. The lamp-shade will now be approximately four feet in diameter. If the figure does not form a part of the lamp ornamentation in the first instance it will remain simply as a lamp, and the actor takes up a position about C. while stage is dark, and the lights growing bring him slowly into view. A good effect is obtained by blacking out all the stage except the small part R. showing HORACE asleep in his chair, with the firelight playing upon him. A gentle roll of thunder should announce the arrival of the MESSENGER. The following is HORACE’S dream._) MESSENGER. Man! Man of Earth! Give heed for the good of your kind. HORACE. Hullo. Who are you? (_Drowsily._) MESSENGER. I am a Messenger from Mars. HORACE. Don’t believe a word of it. MESSENGER. I am a Messenger from Mars. (_Sternly._) HORACE. Are you really? Won’t you sit down? MESSENGER. No. HORACE. Have a drink, then? MESSENGER. Worm!