_Mr. Toov. (recoiling in consternation)._ I? I drop into a music-hall? Oh, I couldn't, indeed! Why, I never was in such a place in all my life. And if anybody were to see me there! _Curph._ You need not be seen at all. There are private boxes where no one would notice you, I could easily get them to send you one, if you like. _Mr. Toov. (to himself)._ What a power the Press is, to be sure! I remember CHARLES said that newspaper writers could get seats for everything. (_Aloud._) Really, I hardly know what to say; it's so very contrary to all my habits, and then--to go alone. Now if _you_ would only accompany me---- _Curph._ You forget, Sir, that's quite impossible. _I_ can't come in the box with you! _Mr. Toov. (to himself)._ There it is--it's against his principles to go himself, and yet he expects _me_ to! (_Aloud, peevishly._) Then why are you so anxious to have _me_ go, eh? _Curph._ Why? Because there are Mrs. TOOVEY'S prejudices to be considered, and I'm anxious that you should be in a position to assure her from your own personal experience that---- _Mr. Toov._ Oh, my dear young friend, if I did go, I don't think I could ever mention such an experience as that to Mrs. TOOVEY. She--she might fail to understand that I merely went for the satisfaction of my own conscience. _Curph._ She might, of course. So long as you satisfy yourself, then. And--what night will suit you best? _Mr. Toov._ You're in such a hurry, young man. I--I never said I should go. I'm not at all sure that I _can_ go; but if I did allow myself to venture, it would have to be some evening when my wife--let me see, on Saturday she's going out to some special meeting of her Zenana Mission Committee, I know. It had better be Saturday, if at all--if at all. _Curph. (making a note)._ Very well. I will see you have a box for that evening, and I hope you will manage to go. But there's a train coming in--I must really be off. Good-bye, Sir, and very many thanks for the kind and generous way in which you have treated me. I am very glad we have had this explanation, and thoroughly understand one another. Good-bye--good-bye! [_He shakes_ Mr. TOOVEY'S _hand with cordial gratitude, and rushes out_. _Mr. Toov. (looking after him in some mystification)._ A most high-minded young man, but a little too officious. And I don't understand why he makes such a point of my going to this Eldorado _now_. But, if I do go, I mayn't see anything to disapprove of; and, if I don't, I shall keep the shares--whether he likes it or not. He may be a very worthy young man, but I doubt whether he's quite a man of the world! END OF SCENE V. * * * * * A STUDY IN PRESS-LAND. (_An Actuality, in one short Scene, at the service of the Institute of Journalists._) SCENE--_An Editor's Room._ Editor _discovered in conversation with_ Would-be Reporter. _Editor (preparing to resume his work)._ Well, from all you tell me, I imagine you must be a most accomplished person.