Mr. S. You would say bigamy, and so should I. I suggested this to Fitz Partington, and he seemed amazed at my penetration. We laid our heads together, and, at his suggestion, I drew up this advertisement. (Hands MS. advertisement, which he has taken from table-drawer.)
Fred. (reads). £50 Reward. This sum will be paid for a true copy of the burial certificate of the first wife of the late Captain Van Brugh, R.N. She is known to have died at Melbourne within the last eight years. Are you sure Fitz Partington is acting straightforwardly with you?
Mr. S. Why should he do otherwise?
Fred. £50 is a large sum.
Mr. S. A large sum? If I can only establish the fact that the first Mrs. Van Brugh died within the last eight years, every penny of this so-called Mrs. Van Brugh’s income—£8,000 a year at least—reverts to me.
Fred. Then, dear me——
Mr. S. Eh?
Fred. Poor Eve will lose her settlement!
Mr. S. True; quite true. Dear me, I never thought of that. Poor Eve!