M'Closky. Twenty-five thousand.
Omnes. [Groan.] O! O!
George. [L.] Yelping hound—take that. [Rushes on M'Closky—M'Closky draws his knife.]
Scud. [Darts between them.] Hold on, George Peyton—stand back. This is your own house; we are under your uncle's roof; recollect yourself. And, strangers, ain't we forgetting there's a lady present. [The knives disappear.] If we can't behave like Christians, let's try and act like gentlemen. Go on, Colonel.
Lafouche. He didn't ought to bid against a lady.
M'Closky. O, that's it, is it? Then I'd like to hire a lady to go to auction and buy my hands.
Point. Gentlemen, I believe none of us have two feelings about the conduct of that man; but he has the law on his side—we may regret, but we must respect it. Mr. M'Closky has bid twenty-five thousand dollars for the Octoroon. Is there any other bid? For the first time, twenty-five thousand—last time! [Brings hammer down.] To Jacob M'Closky, the Octoroon girl, Zoe, twenty-five thousand dollars. [Tableaux.]
END OF ACT THIRD.
[Act IV]
Scene.—The Wharf, The Steamer "Magnolia" alongside, L.; a bluff rock, R. U. E.