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How quaint the ways of I'aradox ! At common sense she gayly "noclcs. Though, counting in the usual way, Years twenty-one I've been alive. Yet, reckoning by my natal-day, I am a little boy oi' five ! Ali.. He is a little boy of five, ha ! ha !
Ha! ha! hal ha! King. Ha! ha! ha! ha! Ruth. Ha! ha! ha! ha! Fred. Ha! ha! ha! ha! All. Ha! ha! ha! ha!
That paradox, etc.
{All throw themselves back on seats, exhausted with laughing.)
Fred. Upon my word, this is most curious,
Most absurdly whimsical. Five and a quarter ! No one would think it to look at me.
Ruth. You are glad now, I'll be bound, that you si)ared us You would never have forgiven yourself when you discovered fliat you had killed two of your comrades.
Fred. My comrades?
King. I'm afraid you don't appreciate the delicacy of your position. You were apprenticed to us —
Fred. Until I reached my twenty-first year.
King. No, until you reached your twenty-first birthday (producing documenf), and, going by birthdays, you are as yet only five and a quarter.
Fred. You don't mean to say you are going to hold me to that ?
King. No, we merely remind you of the fact, and leave the rest to your sense of duty.
Fred. {Wildly.) Don't put it on that footing. As I waa merciful to you just now, be merciful to me. I implore you not to insist on the letter of your bond just as the cup of happiness is at my lips.
Ruth. We insist on nothing. We content ourselves with pointing out to you your duty.
Fred. Well, you have appealed to my sense of duty, and mj duty is only too clear. I abhor your infamous calling, I shudder at the thought that I have ever been mixed up with it, but duty is before all. At any cost, I will do my duty.
King. Bravely spoken ! Come, you are one of us once more
Fred. Lead on, I follow ! {Suddenly.) Oh, horror!
King and Ruth. AVhat is the matter ?
