(Enter Ferdinand Swift, door R.)
Fer. Undone? Not a bit of it. Overdone, I should say, from the look of you. Don't be an old lunatic. Pull yourself together. Look here—(shaking him)—it's all right; I've found my other bottle; here it is. She'll be herself again in a few minutes.
Mr. W. She won't, Ferdinand; it's all over. The body has been discovered and removed.
Fer. (having rushed to cupboard and inspected it). Good gracious! This is most serious. What infernal carelessness! Who did it? and who allowed it to be done? Do you know, you demented old ass, that in that state, my poor aunt was as brittle as glass; and if she's been dropped, or even knocked up against anything, or, for the matter of that, even jolted, she would break into ten thousand pieces! Who's to blame for this, I should, like to know?
Mr. W. (with a groan). I know, Ferdinand, I am. I am what you came to England to look out for, the first felon. Freeze me as quickly as you can, and if you have any sympathy for me, keep me frozen.
(Enter, door L., Mrs. Watmuff, Walter, and Emily. Mrs. Watmuff is walking between them, and has an arm round the waist of each.)
Fer. Hullo! Here is the body! Now, who on earth has done this?
Mr. W. My wife, alive and well! Aha! Aha! Oh, joy! joy! joy!
Fer. Well, upon my soul, it takes very little to make you happy. What I want to know is—
Mrs. W. Peace, assassin; and you (to Mr. Watmuff), malefactor, peace, I say.