_She._ I wish you’d get out of that “_thy_” habit; it’s so irritating. Well, the fact is that all your predecessors died on the evening of our wedding--I mean weddings--and nobody quite knows why. _He._ Truly a strange tale. May I have just _one_ more go at the salad? _She._ Of course. I’m so glad you like it. Curiously enough, the one before you was very fond of it too; in fact I’ve often wondered----Well, there it is. Now I do hope that nothing is going to happen to you, my dear, because I should so hate to think that you had been put to any inconvenience on my account. Besides, it upsets the servants. _He._ Have no fear, beloved. For I too have a secret. I _know_ thy--your--tragic history; a witch has revealed it unto me. _She._ You _know_? Well, I do think you might have told me. I meant it to be a surprise. _He._ Further, she has given me a magic charm to protect us both. _She._ I say, what’s that mess in the corner? There--on the plate. _He._ That is the heart and liver of a fish, my apple. _She._ I hope you haven’t brought a cat into the house; father can’t bear them. _He._ Nay, my love, that is the charm. _She._ It looks a very large one. What fish is it? _He._ It is the heart and liver of a sturgeon. _She._ I suppose it couldn’t have been done with an anchovy? _He._ Nay, nay. For the witch enjoined me; first I must burn it---- _She._ Yes, I think you’d better. _He._ See? (_Burns._) The ashes thereof will drive away the evil spirit that molests you. _She_ (_recoiling_). And I don’t wonder. [_The Curtain falls, and rises again the next morning. The room is full of smoke._ _He_ (_shaving_). Who is that man digging in the garden? _She._ Oh, that’s father. He’s digging a grave for you. It’s become a sort of habit with him. _He._ Wilt thou not tell him it is not required? _She_ (_through the window_). Father, we shan’t want it this time. Sorry. _He._ I thank thee. _She_ (_irritable_). Oh, do stop saying “_thee_.” And will you please take these horrible ashes and throw them away _at once_? Really, I can hardly breathe. _He._ Nay, my love. They are our charm against danger. Art not thou--aren’t you, I mean--grateful? _She._ Yes, of course. But they’ve done the trick by now. We can’t spend our whole married life in this atmosphere. _He._ But indeed we must. The witch enjoined me that, unless they were preserved, I should perish, even as those before me. _She._ Well, I’m extremely sorry, but I really can’t stand this. (_Through the window._) Father, you might bury this, will you? (_throws down the ashes_). Thank you. Oh, and don’t fill up the hole yet. We may want it after all. CURTAIN Transcriber's Notes: Italics are shown thus: _sloping_. Variations in spelling and hyphenation are retained. Perceived typographical errors have been changed.