door is heard moving. OMNES stand motionless--MALCOLM and BELDON very
frightened. They all watch. The room is lit only by the firelight which
is very much fainter than it was at the beginning of the play, by the
candle which GEORGE holds, and by the flood of moonlight from the
window._)

(_The door slowly opens, a hand is seen, then a figure appears in dark
breeches, white stockings, buckled shoes, white shirt, very neat in
every detail, with a long white or spotted handkerchief tied round the
neck, the long end hanging down in front. The face cadaverous, with
sunken eyes and a leering smile, and close cropped red hair. The figure
blinks at the candle, then slowly raises its hands and unties the
handkerchief, its head falls on to one shoulder, it holds handkerchief
out at arm's length and advances towards MALCOLM._)

_Table_
GEORGE
LEEK BELDON MALCOLM
_Chair_

_Fire_ HIRST

(_Just as the figure reaches the place where the moonbeams touch the
floor, LEEK fires--he has very quietly and unobtrusively drawn his
revolver. GEORGE drops the candle and the figure, writhing, drops to the
floor. It coughs once a choking cough. MALCOLM goes slowly forward,
touches it with his foot, and kneels by figure, lifts figure up, gazes
at it, and pulls the red wig off, discovering HIRST. MALCOLM gasps out
"DOCTOR." LEEK places the revolver on chair, kneels behind HIRST.
MALCOLM is L. C., kneeling. At this moment SOMERS enters very brightly
with lighted candle._)

SOMERS. Well, did Hirst win his bet? (_Seeing HIRST on floor, he
realizes the matter_). My God, you didn't--I told him not to. I told him
not to!! I told him--(_falls fainting into arms of GEORGE._)

_Curtain._

PICTURE.

BELDON GEORGE
LEEK HIRST MALCOLM SOMERS
(_kneeling_) (_seated (_kneeling_) (_at door L._)
on floor_)

NOTE. _When played at The Haymarket the piece finished with a different
ending as given below. MR. CYRIL MAUDE fearing the above tragic
termination would be too serious._

_From SOMERS' entrance._

_SOMERS enters with lighted candle, and exclaims very brightly._

SOMERS. Well, did Hirst win his bet?

_Slight pause._

HIRST (_suddenly sitting up_). Yes. (_Turning to DR. LEEK._) You're a
damned bad shot, Doctor. (_Then to MALCO