_Lady B._ (_in agony_). Ah, no, Monkshood, good, faithful Monkshood, she must never know that! Think, Monkshood, you would not tell her that the Grandmother to whom she looks up with such touching, childlike love, was a--_homicide_--you would not do that? _Monks._ Some would say even ’omicide was not too black a name for all you’ve done. (Lady BELLEDAME _shudders_.) I might tell Miss Elfie how you’ve blowed up a live Baronet, corrosive sublimated a gentle Lady, honly for ’aving, in a moment of candour, called you a hold cat, and distributed pison in a variety of forms about this smiling village; and, if that don’t inspire her with distrust, I don’t know the nature of children, that’s all! I might tell her, I say, and, if I’m to keep my mouth shut, I shall expect it to be considered in my wages. _Lady B._ I knew you had a good heart! I will pay you anything--anything, provided you shield my guilt from her ... wait, you shall have gold, gold, Monkshood, gold! [_Chord. Little_ ELFIE _suddenly comes from behind screen; limelight on her. The other two shrink back._ _Elfie._ Do not give that bad old man money, Grandmother, for it will only be wasted. _Lady B._ Speak, child!--how much do you know? _Elfie._ All! [_Chord._ Lady B. _collapses on chair_. _Lady B._ (_with an effort_). And now, Elfie, that you know, you scorn and hate your poor old Grandmother--is it not so? _Elfie._ It is wrong to hate one’s Grandmother, whatever she does. At first when I heard, I was very, very sorry. I _did_ think it was most unkind of you. But now, oh, I _can’t_ believe that you had not some good, wise motive, in acting as you did! _Lady B._ (_in conscience-stricken aside_). Even _this_ cannot shatter her artless faith ... Oh, wretch, wretch! [_Covers her face._ _Monks._ Motive--I believe you there, Missie. Why, she went and insured all their lives aforehand, _she_ did. _Lady B._ Monkshood, in pity hold your peace! _Elfie_ (_her face beaming_). I knew it--I was sure of it! Oh, Granny, my dear, kind old Granny, you insured their lives first, so that no real harm could possibly happen to them--oh, I am so happy! [Illustration: “Good-bye, Good-bye!”] _Lady B._ (_aside_). What shall I say? Merciful Powers, what _shall_ I say to her? [_Disturbed sounds without._ _Monks._ I don’t know what you’d better _say_, but I can tell you what your Ladyship had better _do_--and that is, take your ’ook while you can. Even now the outraged populace approaches, to wreak a hawful vengeance upon your guilty ’ed! [_Melodramatic music._ _Lady B._ (_distractedly_). A mob! I cannot face them--they will tear me limb from limb. At my age I could not survive such an indignity as that! Hide me, Monkshood--help me to escape!