_Bel._ Cheviot, I’ll confess all, if you’ll only live. You--you are _not_ ruined! _Ch._ Not ruined? _Bel._ Not ruined. I--I invented the statement. _Ch._ (_in great delight_). You invented the statement? My dear friend! My very dear friend! I’m very much obliged to you! Oh, thank you, thank you a thousand times! Oh, Belvawney, you have made me very, very happy! (_Sobbing on his shoulder, then suddenly springing up._) But what the devil did you mean by circulating such a report about me? How dare you do it, sir? Answer me that, sir. _Bel._ I did it to gain Belinda’s love. I knew that the unselfish creature loved you for your wealth alone. _Ch._ It was a liberty, sir; it was a liberty. To put it mildly, it was a liberty. _Bel._ It was. You’re quite right--that’s the word for it--it was a liberty. But I’ll go and undeceive her at once. [_Exit BELVAWNEY._ _Ch._ Well, as I’ve recovered my fortune, and with it my tree, I’m about the happiest fellow in the world. My money, my mistress, and my mistress’s money, all my own. I believe I could go mad with joy! _Enter SYMPERSON, in deep black; he walks pensively, with a white handkerchief to his mouth._ _Ch._ What’s the matter? _Sym._ Hallo! You’re still alive? _Ch._ Alive? Yes; why (_noticing his dress_), is anything wrong? _Sym._ No, no, my dear young friend, these clothes are symbolical; they represent my state of mind. After your terrible threat, which I cannot doubt you intend to put at once into execution---- _Ch._ My dear uncle, this is very touching; this unmans me. But, cheer up, dear old friend, I have good news for you. _Sym._ (_alarmed_). Good news? What do you mean? _Ch._ I am about to remove the weight of sorrow which hangs so heavily at your heart. Resume your fancy check trousers--I have consented to live. _Sym._ Consented to live? Why, sir, this is confounded trifling. I don’t understand this line of conduct at all; you threaten to commit suicide; your friends are dreadfully shocked at first, but eventually their minds become reconciled to the prospect of losing you, they become resigned, even cheerful; and when they have brought themselves to this Christian state of mind, you coolly inform them that you have changed your mind and mean to live. It’s not business, sir--it’s not business. _Ch._ But, my dear uncle, I’ve nothing to commit suicide for; I’m a rich man, and Belinda will, no doubt, accept me with joy and gratitude. _Sym._ Belinda will do nothing of the kind. She has just left the house with Belvawney, in a cab, and under the most affectionate circumstances. _Ch._ (_alarmed_). Left with Belvawney? Where have they gone? _Sym._ I don’t know. Very likely to get married. _Ch._ Married? _Sym._ Yes, before the registrar.