SCENE II.
The same as act fourth, scene third.
Enter Handy, jun. with caution, bearing a light, and a large key.
Handy, jun. Now to fulfil my promise with Sir Philip Blandford—by—entering that chamber, and removing—'Tis rather awful—I don't half like it, somehow, every thing is so cursedly still. What's that? I thought I heard something—no—why, 'sdeath, I am not afraid—no—I'm quite su—su—sure of that—only every thing is so cursedly hush, and—[A flash of light, and a tremendous explosion takes place.] What the devil's that? [Trembling.] I swear I hear some one—lamenting—who's there?
Enter Sir Abel Handy.
Father? [Trembling.]
Sir Abel. [Trembling.] Bob!
Handy, jun. Have you seen any thing!
Sir Abel. Oh, my dear boy!
Handy, jun. Damn it, don't frighten one—
Sir Abel. Such an accident! Mercy on us!
Handy, jun. Speak!
Sir Abel. I was mixing the ingredients of my grand substitute for gunpowder, when somehow it blew up, and set the curtains on fire, and—
Handy, jun. Curtains! zounds, the room's in a blaze.
Sir Abel. Don't say so, Bob.
Handy, jun. What's to be done? Where's your famous preparation for extinguishing flames?
Sir Abel. It is not mixed.
Handy, jun. Where's your fire escape?
Sir Abel. It is not fixed.
Handy, jun. Where's your patent fire engine?
Sir Abel. 'Tis on the road.
Handy, jun. Well, you are never at a loss.
Sir Abel. Never.
Handy, jun. What's to be done?
Sir Abel. I don't know. I say, Bob, I have it—perhaps it will go out of itself!
Handy, jun. Go out! it increases every minute—Let us run for assistance—Let us alarm the family.
[Exit.
Sir Abel. Yes—dear me! dear me!
Servant. [Without.] Here, John! Thomas! some villain has set fire to the Castle. If you catch the rascal, throw him into the flames.
[Sir Abel runs off, and the alarm bell rings.