_Luc._ He’s come in. (_Calling at door._) Mr. King!
_Luc._ Sir, I should like to have a few words of explanation with you.
_Cha._ (_running to fasten door_). Oh, by jingo!
_Luc._ He’s locked himself in. (_Aloud._) Pardon me, sir, for troubling you; but—but—if I mistake not, you are Mr. Charles Devereux, the nephew of Mr. Mortimer.
_Cha._ I suppose you mean, madam, that that gentleman was my uncle. I don’t dispute the fact. (_Aside._) How the mischief did she find that out? Ah! it’s that confounded landlord told her.
_Luc._ Well, sir, I’ve a most important communication to make to you from his adopted child.
_Cha._ But I don’t want to hear what she’s got to say, madam. You know her?
_Luc._ Yes, sir, I know her; and I also know that she has been seeking you for a long time, in order to give you up a fortune which by right belongs to you.
_Cha._ What you propose, madam, is ridiculous. I could never accept a farthing.
_Luc._ But suppose in seeing her you happen to like her, and that—
_Luc._ Perhaps you might. If she were like me, for instance?
_Cha._ Never, madam. I’m sworn celibacy,—a knight of Malta, in fact.
_Luc._ (_aside_). What an extraordinary change! (_Aloud._) Mr. King, I’m in the greatest danger, and you alone can save me.
_Cha._ Madam, I’ve saved you twice to-night, and I distinctly refuse to do it any more.
_Luc._ (_aside_). He’s absolutely getting impertinent. Sir, I have something to return to you that belongs to you,—a pocket-handkerchief.
_Cha._ Thanks: I’ve got it,—one with a monogram. I really believe I must barricade my door.
_Luc._ He’s got it! Why, he must have come in here, then; and—and—of course he saw Elizabeth with my cloak round her. I see. Ha, ha, ha!
_Cha._ Confound her, she’s laughing! She laughs too as if she was only twenty.
_Luc._ So, sir, you refuse to open the door?
_Cha._ Quite impossible, madam. I’m gone, I’m a long way off, I’m on my road to Baden.
_Luc._ Pleasant journey, sir. (_Aside._) It can’t be helped, I must have recourse to more violent means.
_Cha._ I verily believe she’s going to burst the door in: I’d better bolt. The devil! this is becoming serious. It almost reminds me of my adventure amongst the savages in Africa, where the daughter of a king, with rings in her nose, took a violent fancy to me. The king favored the marriage, and told me quietly that I had the choice, if I didn’t marry his daughter he’d eat me. I at once answered, “Your Majesty, I prefer to enter your family to your mouth; I’ll marry your daughter to-morrow.” And during the night I escaped to the coast. Let us do the same, and escape to the coast.