Tom. But it’s not hers—it’s——
Sir P. (peremptorily) Give that book to me. (Mildred gives it him) How dare you take this from Miss Derwent’s dressing-room?
Mil. (begins to cry) I didn’t know that I was doing wrong. Mousey is always at Miss Derwent’s bookcase.
Tom. How dare you take that from Miss Selwyn! Is it yours? (facing him boldly)
Sir P. By force of arms.
Tom. Force is not argument.
Sir P. (in a voice of thunder) Go away, boy, go! (points R. Tom collapses, crosses to Mildred, and exit with Mildred R.I.D. quickly)
Sir P. (sits on sofa) “Kennedy—Poisons”—(opens fly-leaf) “Kate Derwent—from her friend, the Author—Guy’s Hospital, 17th April, 1888.” Kennedy’s pet lamb! Gives it right and left, and not got through the first edition yet. Nothing remarkable in that. But why does it open at arsenic? “Mousey is always at Miss Derwent’s book-case.”
Re-enter Price, R.I.D.
Pri. Mr. Learoyd, the chemist, is here, sir.