* * * * * BETWEEN THE ACTS; OR, THE DRAMA IN LIQUOR SCENE--_Refreshment Saloon at a London Theatre. A three-play bill forms the evening's entertainment. First Act over. Enter Brown, Jones, and Robinson._ _Brown._ Well, really a very pleasant little piece. Quite amusing. Yes; I think I will have a cup of coffee or a glass of lemonade. Too soon after dinner for anything stronger. _Jones._ Yes, and really, after laughing so much, one gets a thirst for what they call light refreshments. I will have some ginger-beer. _Robinson._ Well, I think I will stick to iced-water. You know the Americans are very fond of that. They always take it at meal-times, and really after that capital _équivoque_ one feels quite satisfied. (_They are served by the bar attendant._) That was really very funny, where he hides behind the door when she is not looking. [_Laughs at the recollection._ _Brown._ And when the uncle sits down upon the band-box and crushes the canary-cage! [_Chuckles._ _Jones._ Most clever. But there goes the bell, and the curtain will be up directly. Rather clever, I am told. The _Rose of Rouen_--it is founded on the life of _Joan of Arc_. I am rather fond of these historical studies. _Brown._ So am I. They are very interesting. _Robinson._ Do you think so? Well, so far as I am concerned, I prefer melodrama. Judging from the title, _The Gory Hand_ should be uncommonly good. [_Exeunt into Theatre. After a pause they return to the Refreshment Room._ _Brown._ Well, it is very clever; but I confess it beats me. (_To bar attendant._) We will all take soda-water. No, thanks, quite neat, and for these gentlemen too. _Jones._ Well, I call it a most excellent psychological study. However, wants a clear head to understand it. (_Sips his soda-water._) I don't see how she can take the flag from the Bishop, and yet want to marry the Englishman. _Robinson._ Ah, but that was before the vision. If you think it over carefully, you will see it was natural enough. Of course, you must allow for the spirit of the period, and other surrounding circumstances. _Brown._ Are you going to stay for _The Gory Hand_? _Jones._ Not I. I am tired of play-acting, and think we have had enough of it. _Robinson._ Well, I think I shall look in. I am rather fond of strong scenes, and it should be good, to judge from the programme. _Jones._ Well, we will "sit out." It's rather gruesome. Quite different from the other plays. _Robinson._ Well, I don't mind horrors--in fact, like them. There goes the bell. So I am off. Wait until I come back. _Brown._ That depends how long you are away. Ta, ta! [_Exit Robinson._ _Jones._ Now, how a fellow can enjoy a piece like that, I cannot understand. It is full of murders, from the rise to the fall of the curtain.