Venus. Never! With this I will sweep my rival from my path! (Suddenly enters shop.) Where is she, I say? Ah, look! I’ve cut my hand! I bleed!
Alph. Ah, you’ve cut the finger with my ring on! (Tries to get it off.) Let me hold it!
Venus. Never! You would seek flight! I will keep this! Oh, the loss of this blood is freezing me! I am going, Alphonzo! Ah!
(Gong.—Lightning. She is again transfixed.)
Alph. There, right in the middle of my shop again! Oh, if I could only get that ring! But I’m forgetting all about poor Jane! I’ll go and tell her all about it! (Goes through door in shop, L.) Now, don’t give way like that, Jane! It will all come right in the end, and I—— Hallo! What are they doing? Keep still, dear! Come behind this screen. Here’s those same men coming into my shop I saw at the gardens. They were after this self-same figure. Oh, if they’d only pinch it—if they’d only sneak it!
Enter the TWO ROBBERS in street, R., looking very cautiously about.—Music till end of scene.
Alph. (Looking over screen.) Ah, here they come! I’ll not disturb ’em.
First R. All’s safe! The shaver’s out, and we’ve got it all to ourselves.
Second R. Who’d have thought the barber bloke would have had the nous about him to cop hold of this statue?
First R. Won’t he look sick when he discovers it gone?