“If life means life with you—then death a hundred times.” Fieldfare: “Well, die, then—die!” And with a coward’s blow he pushed her over the river-bank. Prompter: “Splash! Two handfuls of rice, and that’s your cue light, Mr. Cartwright.” For a moment it seemed that the panic had deserted Aloysius, for he clattered up the steps three at a time, crying: “Doris! Doris! Where are you? Doris, I say!” Fieldfare: “H’st! Quickly away!” And he and his companion flitted into the shadows as Cartwright, like a human whirlwind, dashed on to the lock bridge. Like a man distraught, he gripped the bridge rail and cried: “Where are you, my love? Where are you?” From the water below came a faint cry of: “Fraaank! Fr—a—!” gugle—gugle. Cartwright: “My God!—in the river—drowning! I—I am coming!” Eliphalet Cardomay leaned forward tensely in his stall, as with superb abandon the hero whipped off his dress coat and, casting it from him, sprang on to the rail of the bridge. With hands high above his head—posed for a magnificent dive—he stood there for one breathless second—then suddenly his body went all limp, his hands fell to his sides, and he faltered: “It’s no use—I can’t do it, sir.” And Eliphalet Cardomay, for the first time on record, swore before his entire company. “Damnation!” The word rang out like a tocsin. Then, tearing off his hat, he kicked it across the auditorium and high up into the dress-circle. “Lamentable creature!” he cried. “Wretched poltroon!” Mr. Cartwright slowly descended from the rostrum. “It is not part of my professional ambition to leap into a net,” he faltered. “Leap!” echoed Eliphalet wildly. “Leap! Dare you employ such a word? I have seen a tile fall from a roof with more grace. I have seen a blind man stumble on a banana-skin with greater dignity. But a more pitiable craven-hearted exhibition than yours I—I——” Words failed him. “You have ruined my belief in the younger generation—you have shattered my belief in myself. Manning, Manning! what are we going to do about it?” “Have a bit of lunch, Guv’nor, and talk it over quietly afterwards.” So attractive did the proposition sound that without awaiting the sanction of the master, the entire company trooped to the wings and, grabbing their hats and coats, made for the nearest exit. Never before in the recollection of the oldest member of the company had “the Guv’nor” given way to the slightest exhibition of temper, and the occasion had seriously unnerved them. That he should have lost control of himself to the extent of using violent language, and kicking his defenceless hat, was a revelation which could only be conversationally approached in the fresh air and sunshine. Some form of belated courage induced Mr. Cartwright to remain, after the others had departed, brushing his Homburg hat upon his sleeve and buttoning and unbuttoning his gloves. He of all others had the greater reason for flight, and to his credit be it entered that he lingered.