the will_) “I give and bequeath all that and those”—um, um, um, um, um, um—“three per cent. consols”—um, um, um—“Shares in the”—um, um, um—“bank stock, goods, and chattels, to my beloved wife, Laura,”—um, um, um! Now for the codicil, (_writes_) “Provided always, that if my said wife shall survive me, and shall intermarry with a second husband, I hereby revoke all and every of the bequests hereinbefore contained.” That’s only justice! If it was my misfortune to be left a gay widower—would I marry again? never! At least, not until I had reflected seriously—and—pooh! Deliciously soothing this cigarette!—not until, I had weighed in my mind,—the—delightful aroma, and the—object however lovely, with—the memory of the dear departed,—and the natural—weakness of—of—my head—no—my heart—and conjugal affection.—I’m coming—my dear—com—ing! _Music_—_The cigarette falls from his lips_, _and he sinks fast asleep with his head on the desk before him_. _Lights down_, _and the scene gradually changes_—TODD _sinking through stage_, _with tables and chairs_. * * * * * SCENE II. _A Ruined Palace in the Abruzzi_. _An apartment in a dilapidated castle_, _still exhibiting traces of having been once occupied by persons of taste and opulence_.—_The hangings are faded and torn_, _and the pictures falling from their tarnished frames_; _some articles of antique furniture are mingled with others of a new and modern fashion_; _table up stage_, L. C., _laid for supper_, _and a lighted lamp on it_; _chairs_, R. _and_ L.; _open window with balcony at back_, C., _with moonlight view beyond_; _doors_, L. 2 _and_ 3 E. _and_ R. 2 _and_ 3 E.. MARIETTA _discovered alone_, _looking out on balcony at back_. MARI. Not a living creature to be seen; not a sound to be heard but the chirping of the cicalas amongst the pine trees, (_comes down_, C.) Heigho!—what a lonely life is mine! no better than a prisoner in this desolate old house in the mountains, seeing nobody but my uncle Jacopo and his frightful followers, except when they happen to bring in some unlucky traveller, who has fallen into their hands. _Enter_ TODD, L. 2 E., _he is dressed in mourning_, _and wears a black hatband round a high-crowned Italian peasant’s hat_; _he has a brace of pistols stuck in a broad girdle_, _and a concertina slung over his shoulder_. What would I give for a companion in my solitude! TODD. (_advancing_, L.) Then behold one here, most interesting aborigines, (_plays a few bars of_ “_My Mary Anne_,” _out of tune_) Excuse the failure;—my heart is true, though my instrument be false. MARI. Pray who are you? TODD. A man of woes and mystery; carrying about with him a broken heart, and a concertina to match. (_plays a few false chords on his concertina_) MARI. A stranger? TODD. A weeping stranger from a foreign land! Samuel Todd, it is my name; Britain is my nation, Brompton is my dwelling place, And Naples my destination.