St. Aubyn.
[Illustration: _THIS_ IS MR. ST. AUBYN]
ALMERIC [coming down]. Hallo, though! It's the donkey man, isn't it? How
very odd! You'll have to see the Governor and our solicitor about the
settlement. I've some important business here. The police are chasing a
bally convict chap under the cliffs over yonder, so you'll have to
excuse me. I'll have to be toddling.
[Goes up to terrace wall overlooking cliffs.]
You know there's nothing like a little convict shooting to break the
blooming monotony--what?
[The bugle sounds. ALMERIC turns and rushes off.]
Wait for me, you fellows! Don't hurt him till _I_ get there!
[His voice dies away in the distance.]
PIKE [turning to ETHEL with slow horror]. _Seven hundred and fifty
thousand dollars for_--How much do they charge over here for a _real_
man?
[She is unable to meet his eye. She turns, with flaming cheeks, and runs
into the hotel. He stands staring after her, incredulous, dumfounded, in
a frozen attitude.]
END OF THE FIRST ACT
THE SECOND ACT
Scene: Entrance garden of the hotel.
In the distance are seen the green slopes of vineyards, a ruined castle,
and olive orchards leading up the mountainside.
An old stone wall seven feet high runs across the rear of the stage.
This wall is almost covered with vines, showing autumn tints, crowning
the crest of the wall and hanging from it in profusion.
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