(_Enter Peters announcing Richard Hanningford, door at back._) Pet. Mr. Richard Hanningford. (_Exit Peters._) Hann. Morning, gentlemen. (_Allen goes r.c. Hann. goes c._) Allen. Good-morning. (_Motioning to Purt., who is l._) Mr. Purtwee, the gentleman I spoke of. Hann. Good-morning, (_c. and then coming r.sits L.c._) Guess I’m not a particularly welcome visitor here. Allen, (_r._) Well, I owns as I’ve come across folks as I’ve felt more at home wi’. (_Allen sits R._) But I suppose we’ve got to get used to ’ee. Purt. Well now, gentlemen, we’ve come for business and must not waste time. Mr. Rollitt has told you who I am, and if you are Richard Hanningford I shall be only too anxious for you to have your rights. But then, my dear sir, I shall want to be very sure that you are Richard Hanningford. Hann. That’s right and square. I’ve got to prove it, I know, and I don’t say that it will be an easy job. Purt. At present you see we have nothing but your bare word for it. You say this man who called himself Richard Hanningford and who died at Mrs. Rollitt’s was an impostor. Hann. And a damned scoundrel. Purt. Quite so, if he were not Richard Hanningford, he must have been. But then if he were Richard Hanningford-- Hann. Why then, I am the damned scoundrel. Purt. Well--I wasn’t going to say that--but one of you must be the right Hanningford--and the other the wrong one--and if we made a mistake three months ago we don’t want to make another now. Allen, (_r._) You see it ain’t so much the money I care about. There was a time that I thought it would be a grand thing to be rich, but now I’ve tried it, danged if I see so much fun in it as I thought there wur. (_Rises._) It ain’t only that: it’s the girl I love--if I lose the money, I loses her. I can’t expect her to have me wi’out it. She’s a lady--I’m only a country bumpkin and I know it. With this money I can win her and make her life happy--even if she doesn’t much care for me. If I were sure you were Dick Hanningford, I’d gie it up. But I ain’t sure and I’m going to fight--that’s plain. (_Turns and crosses r. Sits R.c._) Hann. (_Coes to Allen r.c._) Plain and sensible, and I don’t like you any the less for it; but I am Dick Hanningford, and the money’s mine, and I’m going to have a good fight to get it. (_Coes l. puts foot on chair._) Purt. (_After a pause._) You say this man who tried to--and, as he thought, did--murder you--had been a friend of yours. Hann. (_Fiercely--takes foot off chair._) He’d been my chum for over two years--the cur--and knew everything about me--I saved his life when the gang were going to hang him--he shared my diggings when we were in the mining lay, and he had half my blanket every night when we were with the cattle. And I trusted him--the skunk. Purt. What was his name? Hann. Cassidy--Dan Cassidy. (_Sits again._) Purt. And then he murdered you--or tried to as you say--took your papers from you, and came over here to impersonate you? Hann. I suppose so.