Chapter II: Act I: Scene 1. Enter Virtuous Banker. "I have embezzled

WALTER CORAM'S money, and he is coming from India to claim it. I am a ruined man."

_Enter Unprincipled Clerk_. "Not so. WALTER CORAM is lost at sea, and we will keep the money."

_Virtuous Banker_. "Thank heaven! I am not found out, and can remain an honest man as usual."

_Scene_ 2. _Enter Comic Villain_. "I am just released from prison and must soon meet my wife." (_Swears and smashes in his hat_.)

_Enter Unprincipled Clerk_. "Not so. WALTER, CORAM is lost at sea. Personate him, draw his money, and share it with me."

_Comic Villain_. "I will." (_Swears and smashes in his hat_.)

_Scene_ 3. _Enter Miss Effie Germon_. (Aside.) "I am supposed to be a virtuous and vagabond boy. I hate to show my ankles in ragged trowsers, but I must." (_Shows them. Applause_)

_Enter Daughter of Comic Villain_. "I love the unprincipled clerk; but there is a sick stranger up-stairs who pokes the fire in a way that I can hardly resist. Be firm, my heart. Shall I be untrue to my own unprincipled -----"

_Enter Unprincipled Clerk_. "Not so. WALTER CORAM is lost at sea, and I must leave these valuable boxes in your hands for safe-keeping." (_Leaves the boxes, and then leaves himself_.)

_Enter Sick Stranger_. "I am WALTER CORAM. Those are my boxes. Somebody is personating me. Big thing on somebody. Let him go ahead." (_Curtain_.)

* * * * *

_Young Lady in the Audience_. "Isn't EFFIE GERMON perfectly lovely?"

_Accompanying Bostonian Youth_. "Yes; but you should see RISTORI in _Marie Antoinette_. There is a sweetness and light about the great tragedienne which -----"

_Heavy old Party, to contiguous Young Man_. "Don't think much of this; do you? Now, in TOM PLACIDS's day----" _Contiguous and aggrieved Young Man pleads an engagement and hastily goes out_.