Let me tell you
now _why_ I stole it.
_Renee (eagerly_). Let me guess. Your wife was starving--
_Merital (astounded_). Wonderful! How ever did you know?
_Renee_. --and you meant to repay the money.
_Merital_. More and more marvellous. Yes, Renee, that was how it was.
But it hardly does justice to the affair. It is too short. I want to
tell you the story of my _whole_ life and then you will understand.
Watch my face carefully and observe how it works; notice the constant
movement of my hands; listen to the inflections of my voice. This is
going to be the longest speech ever made by an actor-manager, and you
mustn't miss a moment of it. H'r'm! Now then. (_Nobly_) I was born
fifty-three years ago. My father....
_Renee (half-an-hour later_). I still love you.
_Merital (with some truth_). What a love yours is!
_Enter_ Daniel, Julien _and_ Georgette Merital.
_Daniel_. Father, we have a confession to make. For some time we
doubted your innocence. Your face--well, you'd have doubted it
yourself if you'd seen it.
_Merital (taking his hand affectionately_). Ah! Daniel, I see I must
tell you the story of my life. (_Excitement among the audience_.) And
you too, Julien. (_Panic_.) Yes, and--little Georgette!
SAFETY CURTAIN.
A. A. M.
* * * * *
[Illustration: THE EARTHLY PARADISE.
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