gret that it should have occurred--this is no time
for us to part, we are each seated on a volcano--(Whispering.)
_She's written to me!_

FRED. Who?

SEL. _The girl I met last night!_ She said she wanted to see
me at once--but forgot to put her number in Bond street in her
letter, so I have been trotting up and down for three hours
inquiring for her by her Christian name, as I know no other.
I want to buy her silence! That's volcano number one!

FRED. What's the other Vesuvius?

SEL. "_Tompkins_" has been here! You know Tompkins,
the duelist.

FRED. No!

SEL. I offered to apologize to him, too, but he was one of
those bland but bloodthirsty fellows who thirst for human
gore--he wouldn't hear of it--I got his address, I flew
to humiliate myself on his doorstep, but he had given me a
false one.

FRED. A false doorstep!

SEL. No, a false address--but we must find the real one--go
on, dear boy, go on with your search. (Handing Directory and
hat.) Take your implements! Stanley discovered Livingstone,
why shouldn't Bellamy discover Tompkins?

FRED. It's as bad as the treadmill--they all live in lodgings
and just under the tiles, these beastly Tompkinses!

SEL. How many of the infernal family have you found already?

FRED. Thirty-seven!

SEL. Did you question them?

FRED. Minutely! Three of them acknowledged to having had
a fight last night.

SEL. Ah!

FRED. One with a sweep, one with a dog, and one with
his wife!

SEL. There are two hundred and fifty-two left
to cross-examine. I have heard more about him since you
left--he's a poet! Author of the _Frost-bitten Nose_, or
something that sends a shiver down your back and makes your
spine jingle like a Christy minstrel's bones!

FRED (aside). If he thinks I'm going for ever on this
Tompkins's hunting, he's much mistaken! I shall go straight
to my Lottie and stop there! (Crosses to R.) That's what I
shall do!

SEL. That's right! Once more into the breach, dear boy!
If you are tired take a cab--I'll go halves in it with you!
(Exit FRED, C.) What devotion! Can I refuse to let this man
marry my daughter? No!

DIBBS (entering, L. U. E.). Mr. Bellamy not here, sir?

SEL. Just gone out! What do you want?

DIBBS. It's another messenger with another letter "from
the same lady as before" he said! (SELWYN seizes and tears
it open nervously aside.) Now, I'll just go and tell Captain
Katskill the governor's alone. Mi