Tomp. I am due at the Antiquarian Society. A discussion on what History owes to numismatics!
Dunn. Well, go and fix the amount and get History to settle up—Good evening! Mary! Oh! Good evening, Tompkins! (lights down low)
Mary appears C. and R., ushers Tompkins out L. C., then crosses to R. at back.
Dunn. (goes to Statue again, softly humming a tune) A pretty thing for our Company if that idiot had damaged his Statue with those infernal wires. Just like my beautiful sister-in-law, to give permission to wrap them round the figure, just to show that my wishes were of no account. I’ll get a staple and padlock to-morrow; and fasten that screen up like a packing case. (sits on sofa) I suppose the Electricity can’t affect the marble; ha! it’s such a mysterious agent, one never knows what it may do. P’raps I’d better light up. I wonder what’s the matter with the Electric lamps in the street? (crosses at front of table L. C. and looks out of window) They’re generally making the gas look sickly before this—must be something wrong this evening. Ah! There it goes! (flash on electric light outside window, flooding stage, Dunn sits L. of table L. C.) Well! That’s light enough to think by. (low moan; weird music begins) What’s that? (moan) Some Psychological phenomenon! An omen of some kind! (rising, towards window; Niobe extending her arms, pushes open screen and is seen moving, as if awakening to life; Dunn slowly turns) Great Heavens! The Statue’s alive!
Falls on knees at chair L. of table.
Nio. My feet! Oh, Amphion! Amphion!
Dunn. (looking at Statue) Is this nightmare? Am I dreaming?
Nio. My feet! This thrill! A liquid fire seems coursing through my veins. Ah!
As if bursting the spell steps down from pedestal, remains, making picture.
Dunn. No! No! It can’t be that—I don’t drink to that extent.