THWAITES. Now, I thought I had said something very pretty—but she don’t look pleased.
AGATHA. No one has arrived, of course?
THWAITES. On the contrary, Miss Agatha—I’m sorry to differ from you, but I rather think one has arrived, and is coffee-ing in the back parlor;—here he is, too!
Enter WHITEWASH, C. from L. C., and down, C.
Mr. Whitewash, as I’m alive!—No occasion to announce you, sir.
WHITE (C.). Ah, my dear Miss De Windsor, excuse me if I stopped a minute to refresh myself with a demitasse of your choice Mocha instead of flying up stairs; but you see, a cause in which I was retained came on late, and I was obliged to exert myself a good deal—abnormally—if I may use the expression;—in short I was regularly knocked up.
AGATHA. Don’t think of apologies—as it is you are the first in the room. So you have had another brief to-day—I hope you have been victorious.
WHITE. One of my most brilliant triumphs! I actually outshone myself! (THWAITES listens) A rascal had stolen a watch from a gentleman’s pocket, and hid it!—ha, ha, ha!—in his umbrella.
THWAITES. Watch in an umbrella—come, that’s not bad!—ho, ho, ho!
WHITE. Eh? (looks half offended—then continues without noticing THWAITES) There is not the slightest doubt that the scoundrel was guilty; indeed he had such a face that innocence would have been a positive fraud upon nature—but, ha, ha, ha! I got him off—I got him off!—a weeping jury declared that he was not guilty.