In consequence of this exposition, Joan acquired a much clearer understanding of the nature of the sketch. It concerned two persons only: a remarkably successful stage dancer, to be played by Joan; her convict husband, fresh from the penitentiary, by Quard. _Scene_: the dressing-room of the dancer. _Time_: just after the dancer's "turn." Joan, discovered "on", informs the audience of her fortunate circumstances through the medium of a brief soliloquy. _Enter_ Quard (shambling gait, convict pallor, etc.) to inform her that she has been living in the lap of luxury during the eight years that he has been serving time: "I'm goin' to have my share now!" Comedy business: humorously brutal attitude toward wife; slangy description of prison life. ("They'll simply eat that up!"--_Quard._) More comedy business involving a gratuitous box of property cigars and a cuspidor. Suddenly and without shadow of excuse, husband accuses wife of infidelity. Indignant denials; wife exhibits portrait of child born after commitment of husband, and of whose existence he has heretofore been ignorant: "It was for him I fought my way to the top of the ladder: he has _your_ eyes!" Incontinently husband experiences change of heart; kisses photograph; snuffles into cap crushed between hands; slavers over wife's hand; refuses her offer of assistance; announces he will go West to "make a _man_ of myself!" before returning to claim his wife and child. And the _Curtain_ falls upon him in the act of going out, all broken up. "Of course," Quard admitted, "it's bunk stuff, but we can put it across all right. I'm going to call it _The Convict's Return_ and bill it as by _Charles D'Arcy and Company_. You'll be the company. I don't want to use my name, because it ain't going to do me any good to have it known I've taken to this graft, and if I'm lucky no one's going to spot me through my make-up." Suddenly apprised by the failing light that the hour was growing late, he pocketed the manuscript and rose. "Come on out and eat--business dinner. We'll talk things over, and I'll fetch you home early, so's you can start getting up on your lines." They dined again at the Italian boarding-house. Quard drank but sparingly, considerably to the relief of Joan.... She was home by half-past eight, her head buzzing with her efforts to remember all he had told her, and sat up till three in the morning, conning the inhuman speeches of her part until she had them by rote; no very wonderful accomplishment, considering that the sketch was to play less than fifteen minutes, and that two-thirds of its lines were to be delivered by Quard.