William decided to be a woman-hater for the rest of his life.
"All right," he capitulated, "'f you're going to be so disagreeable—jus' like a girl"—he strode forward again and raised his voice, "'The Bloody Hand,' wrote, every bit of it, by William Brown—acted by Molly Carter an Ginger an' Douglas an' Henry—they jus' learnt wot William Brown wrote. Now, if you'll be quiet a minute," he went on to his silent audience, "we'll begin. You begin," he said to the damsel in the lace curtain.
She advanced. The rest of them stood in a corner and watched.
"She's on," William announced to the audience. "We're off. Go on!" he repeated to her.
"I'm jus' going to," she replied irritably, "soon as you stop talking." Then, changing her voice to one of shrill artificiality, "Ho! Where am I? Lorst in a dreadful forest——"
"It's meant to be a forest," explained the author to the audience.
"I wish you'd stop keep on saying things," said the heroine. "I forget where I am. Lorst in a dreadful forest. What shall I do? Ah, me! Crumbs! Who is this who yawns upon my sight?"
"Dawns!" corrected the prompter.
"A fierce villain," went on the heroine, ignoring him, "methinks. I shouldn't be surprised if it wasn't Carlo Rupino of the Bloody Hand. Oh Lor! what shall I do? Ah me! He draws nearer."
"It is him," prompted William.