[_Behind the Stranger, with a terrific frown, she shakes her fist at him._ MR PERKINS (_Feebly blustering_.) Now what’s all this? MISS PERKINS Oh, Ma! MRS PERKINS Shut up! STRANGER I’m sorry to intrude, sir, but I’ve lost something in your room. MRS PERKINS What nonsense! ’Ow could yer? STRANGER As I have told this lady, my little boy---- MRS PERKINS Where is ’e? STRANGER (_To Mr Perkins_.) His favourite glass marble. He pretended to throw it. It slipped from his hand and, I am sorry to say, went through your window. I apologise and shall be glad to pay. Please give me the--marble at once. Where is it? I’ve no time to lose. MRS PERKINS Where’s the boy? STRANGER He’s just round the corner. MRS PERKINS D’ y’ expect us to believe that tale? STRANGER (_With a flash of menace._) You’d better. (_To Mr Perkins_.) Now, sir! MR PERKINS It’s a bit thick, y’ know; I mean thin. STRANGER It will have to do. No trifling. Come! [_He is looking about the room, having cursorily glanced at the floor. He strides to the window and pulls down the blind._ MRS PERKINS None o’ y’r liberties here. Get out! MR PERKINS ’Ere, y’ know! _(Aside to Mrs Perkins_.) Ma, I don’t like it. STRANGER The devil! Where’s the glass? MRS PERKINS What glass? STRANGER The pane’s gone. You see! I knew this was the house. MRS PERKINS That’s easy explained. MISS PERKINS Oh, Ma! Tell him and---- MRS PERKINS Of course I’ll tell ’im. (_She menaces Miss Perkins surreptitiously_.) It’s my daughter’s newfangled ideas of ventilation. She would ’ave it so. It’s been that way a fortnight. No--let’s see--to-day’s Tuesday. Nigh on a month. STRANGER Damnation! Where is it? Where’s the diamond? MRS PERKINS (_With a shriek of exultation._) The diamond! STRANGER Yes, let me tell you then. Your lives are in danger. You’ve got the Grand Cham’s diamond. MR PERKINS ’Ow did it get ’ere? STRANGER The thief was pursued. He threw it in. MR PERKINS (_Querulously._) Why did ’e throw it in ’ere? STRANGER Don’t be a fool. MRS PERKINS An’ ’oo are you? STRANGER I am--the Grand Cham’s representative. MRS PERKINS Prove it. STRANGER Enough of this. [_He draws a revolver. Miss Perkins shrieks. Mr Perkins recoils and edges away. Mrs Perkins stands firm._ MR PERKINS Ma! Ma! STRANGER (_Rapping the butt of the revolver on the table._) Where is it? MRS PERKINS I’ll tell yer. STRANGER At once. MRS PERKINS I’ve swallered it. STRANGER (_Greatly discomposed._) What! MRS PERKINS It went down as easy as a oyster. STRANGER Swallowed it! You’re joking! MRS PERKINS No. I got the idea out of the evenin’ paper. Where is it, Pa? ’Ere. “Child swallows Shillin’. Curious Case.” STRANGER (_To the others_.) Is this true? MISS PERKINS Oh, I don’t know. MR PERKINS Y’ see, I was asleep. STRANGER Asleep! MR PERKINS Wasn’t I, Mother? MRS PERKINS ’E’d sleep through anythin’. STRANGER D’ you mean to say----? Where is it? MRS PERKINS