HELEN. Yes. What else do you want? I will promise anything. GERARDO. And now may I go away in peace? HELEN [_rising_]. Yes. GERARDO. A last kiss? HELEN. Yes, yes, yes. [_They kiss passionately._] GERARDO. In a year I am booked again to sing here, Helen. HELEN. In a year! Oh, I am glad! GERARDO [_tenderly_]. Helen! [_Helen presses his hand, takes a revolver out of her muff, shoots herself and falls._] GERARDO. Helen! [_He totters and collapses in an armchair._] BELL BOY [_rushing in_]. My God! Mr. Gerardo! [_Gerardo remains motionless; the Bell Boy rushes toward Helen._] GERARDO [_jumping up, running to the door and colliding with the manager of the hotel_]. Send for the police! I must be arrested! If I went away now I should be a brute, and if I stay I break my contract. I still have [_looking at his watch_] one minute and ten seconds. MANAGER. Fred, run and get a policeman. BELL BOY. All right, sir. MANAGER. Be quick about it. [_To Gerardo._] Don't take it too hard, sir. Those things happen once in a while. GERARDO [_kneeling before Helen's body and taking her hand_]. Helen!... She still lives--she still lives! If I am arrested I am not wilfully breaking my contract.... And my trunks? Is the carriage at the door? MANAGER. It has been waiting twenty minutes, Mr. Gerardo. [_He opens the door for the porter, who takes down one of the trunks._] GERARDO [_bending over her_]. Helen! [_To himself._] Well, after all.... [_To Muller._] Have you called a doctor? MANAGER. Yes, we had the doctor called at once. He will be here at any minute. GERARDO [_holding her under the arms_]. Helen! Don't you know me any more? Helen! The doctor will be here right away, Helen. This is your Oscar. BELL BOY [_appearing in the door at the center_]. Can't find any policeman, sir. GERARDO [_letting Helen's body drop back_]. Well, if I can't get arrested, that settles it. I must catch that train and sing in Brussels to-morrow night. [_He takes up his score and runs out through the center door, bumping against several chairs._] [_Curtain._] A GOOD WOMAN A FARCE BY ARNOLD BENNETT CHARACTERS JAMES BRETT [_a Clerk in the War Office_, 33]. GERALD O'MARA [_a Civil Engineer_, 24]. ROSAMUND FIFE [_a Spinster and a Lecturer on Cookery_, 28]. Reprinted from "Polite Farces," published by George H. Doran Company, by special arrangement with Mr. Arnold Bennett. A GOOD WOMAN A FARCE BY ARNOLD BENNETT