Fannie, dearest! (He takes her hand.)
MRS. BRIGGS
Oh, I wouldn’t have anybody know this—
INGOLDSBY
Dearest, dearest Fannie!
MRS. BRIGGS
Why, I wouldn’t have anybody know that we—
(They are interrupted by a voice from a mysterious and invisible source. It is a male and adult voice, loudly and emphatically affecting to clear the throat of its origin in the manner of a person wishing to attract the attention of some other person.)
THE MYSTERIOUS VOICE
A-hem! A-a-a-hem!