WALTER. Here comes the base part of it. You are not to be told. Swift is to suggest that you should use his precious fluid as a remedy for neuralgia. For Heaven's sake, refuse to use it, for any one who does would do so at the peril of his life. Good-by, madam. I believe that my warning is a timely one, and I am thankful to be the means of rendering you this small service. (_Exit door_, R., WALTER LITHERLAND, _who immediately returns and hides behind screen, unnoticed by_ MRS. WATMUFF.) MRS. W. A timely warning, truly! I feel as one in a trance. I have long doubted the fidelity of Mr. Watmuff,--I have long understood the duplicity of his character,--but I had not thought him capable of such vile machinations as these. Cold-blooded miscreants!--they would suspend my animation, would they? Oh, Mr. Watmuff, you must be read a bitter lesson for this. It will be hard for me to take a part in a masquerade, but the memory of my parents demands this _immortelle_ from me. (_Takes up the bottle, empties it of its contents, and fills it up from a bottle of water which is on table._) Yes, I will affect to be deceived by your blandishments, and you shall think that you have succeeded in your most vile purpose. Shades of my parents, hover near me, and protect your daughter in the Juliet-like ordeal through which she is about to pass! (_Enter_ MR. WATMUFF _and_ FERDINAND SWIFT, _door_ R.) MR. W. Oh, there you are, my dear. I've been looking for you everywhere. I wanted to tell you Ferdinand Swift had unexpectedly arrived in England. FER. And I need hardly say, my dear aunt, that my first desire was to come and pay my respects to you. MRS. W. You are welcome, nephew. MR. W. I think you'll say that again, my dear, when you hear of what Ferdinand has brought with him. You must know that he is the bearer to England of, and is about to introduce to this country, a most extraordinary remedy--for what do you think? MRS. W. How should I hazard a conjecture, Mr. Watmuff? MR. W. For neuralgia! There! isn't that good news? MRS. W. It would, indeed, be a boon, could some efficacious specific be found to war with that most terrible disorder. FER. My dear aunt, it has been found. It may seem a curious thing to say, but, when I inquired after your health--which, of course, I did the moment I came into the house--and my uncle told me that you suffered from neuralgia, I was positively _glad_ to know that I could be the happy means of at once and permanently relieving you from all pain. MRS. W. If what you say is true, nephew, you will be a benefactor to suffering humanity. You should deem yourself very fortunate to be such an instrument.