CHERI. Stop him! Don't let him escape! He has murdered a woman. TWILL. Murdered a woman? Oh, the dirty blackguard, what a taste he had. (_Brown attempts to seize him, but Widgetts strikes his hat over his eyes, runs round the table, and runs to door, L., against which Twill has placed his back._) TWILL. (_In a boxing attitude._) No, you don't. (_Brown now collars him, and Cheri Bounce beats him with her umbrella._) BROWN. Ha, have I got you at last--(_shaking him_)--villain! WID. Help! Murder! Police! Help! TWILL. (_Dancing at door, L._) Police! Here's an illigant row. Go it, little one--fire away, umbrella! She don't lay it into him at all. WID. Stop, stop, stop! Spare the remnant of an injured tailor's life. You think I cut off Mary White's thread; but I didn't! The horrid act was her own deed. She got jealous of me, and mixed her proud spirit with too much water. She'd tell you so herself, poor soul, if she could. MARY. (_Speaking inside folding doors in a solemn voice._) No, she wouldn't. WID. Angels and bannisters support me. (_Drops on his knees. Mdlle. Cheri Bounce throws herself into the arms of Brown. General consternation._) 'Tis her voice--her ghost is come back to walk the earth in them green boots. Injured shade, speak for me, if ghosts have parts of speech, and tell them I'm innocent. MARY. (_Inside._) You caused my death by your falsity. WID. O-oh! I know it; but sooner than you should have made an object of yourself, I'd have married you ten times over. MARY. (_Inside._) And would you marry me now, if I was living? WID. I would--to-morrow morning. MARY. (_Runs out._) Then, Whittington, I'm your loving Mary again. WID. (_Jumps up and tries to avoid her, she follows him._) Hollo! No--keep off. (_She embraces him._) Hey! Bless me, you're neither damp or dead; on the contrary you're remarkably warm and lively. But, are you sure you're not a water nymph, and that you have not got private apartments in the Thames or the New River? MARY. No, Widgy; don't be afraid, 'twas only a trick of mine, to plague you for your inconstancy. (_Pointing to water butt._) She's not _me_, but the dummy figure, dressed up in some of my clothes. WID. Ah, I've been finely hoaxed! And where's the detective policeman, that eat my lobster, and drank my wine? MARY. Why, of course, he's here. (_Points to herself._) WID. Oh, you villain! But what's to be done with Brown? (_Brown and Mdlle. Cheri Bounce, who have been conversing at the back, during the later part of the dialogue, come down._) BROWN. Ask Ma'amselle here, for she's consented to be Mrs. Brown, next Monday, and as for this little affair of the supper I was in the plot with Mary.