_Whi._ Trust me--I will, for poor dear Tom Cobb’s sake. How she loved that man! (_Wipes his eye._) But this is not business. The Colonel, who is downstairs with Mr. Effingham, begged me to give you this--your weekly screw. Allow me, Major-General. (_Gives him a sovereign._) _Tom._ Thank you. The Colonel is always regular and punctual with my little pension. _Whi._ The Colonel is extremely punctilious about money matters. Oh, I quite forgot--he further desires me to say that from this moment he proposes to discontinue your weekly payment. _Tom_ (_aghast_). What! _Whi._ From this moment your little pension dries up. _Tom._ Do you mean to tell me that he intends deliberately to break his plighted word? _Whi._ That is precisely what I intended to convey. _Tom._ And cut off my only source of sustenance? _Whi._ Absolutely. _Tom._ But hang it, man, don’t he know that his liberty and wealth are at my mercy? _Whi._ Yes, he knows that; but he’s prepared to risk it. You see, General, Messrs. Docket and Tape are looking out for Tom Cobb. Tom Cobb’s wanted. I don’t know what he’s done, but people talk about a forged will. He’s advertised for every day. You may have noticed it. _Tom._ Yes, I’ve remarked it. _Whi._ Well, if Tom Cobb is alive this advertisement is quite enough to keep him quiet. The Colonel, having this fact strongly before his eyes, considers that as he has no further interest in Major-General Fitzpatrick’s existence, he does not see why he should be called upon to contribute to his support. _Tom._ But it’s ruin! Hang it--it’s starvation! Whipple, you used to be a nice man once--ask him to see me--ask him to speak to me for five minutes! By your old niceness, I implore you! _Whi._ I can’t resist that appeal! I’ll ask him, but I’m not sanguine. You see, he’s been in the constant practice of breaking his promise for the last sixty-five years, and it’s degenerated into a habit. [_Exit WHIPPLE._ _Tom._ And I did that man’s---- (_Furious._) But I’ll be even with them all. I don’t care now. I’ve nothing to lose, and I’m a desperate man. My mind’s made up. I’ll write to Docket and Tape, and tell the whole truth! (_Sits down to write._) Now, Colonel O’Fipp, tremble, and you, Whipple, tremble, and Matilda. (_Throws down pen._) I would spare Matilda! But no, let _her_ tremble too! (_Finishes letter; about to ring bell._) Now, now, I shall soon know the worst! _Enter BULSTRODE from balcony._ _Bul._ The Major-General seems moody. On what is he thinking? On the sacking of towns, perchance? _Tom._ Bulstrode, you’re a lawyer’s clerk, aren’t you? _Bul._ Cursed be my lot, I am! _Tom._ Do you happen to know Docket and Tape? _Bul._ I do! _Tom._ Who are they? _Bul._ My loathed employers! _Tom._ What! Why, then, you know all about this Tom Cobb whom they are advertising for, and whose name is on every tongue? _Bul._ I should rather say I did.