The Winged Beetle

194 MR TODD Too suspicious—a nasty, sly, sneaking fellow ! Higgin- botham, Ramspittle, Rosenbaum, Hoggenheimer, Flipp, Montgomery, MacAn—no, hang it ! no hope in a Mac— Schpliechenspitzel, Togahening, Adams, Blitzenstein, Cznechzaditzch—no use. I wonder where I caught that cold ! who the devil is there that I could ask ? [Enter THOMAS —OSSORY’S back toward door. THOMAS. Mr. Todd. [Enter TODD—OSSORY doesn’t turn. OSSORY. I can’t see him, Thomas. [Turns.] I beg your pardon, Mr. Todd. The fact is, I’m damnably worried over pay-day. I don’t know you very well, but I have a sound business proposition to put before you. I think you might help me. God knows I have tried every one else. Now—— [TODD takes him by the shoulder and whispers in his ear. Why, really, that is good of you—damned good of you ! Why, damme, sir ! you’re a public benefactor. Come, let us arrange the preliminaries—— [They go out, OSSORY clinging tightly to TODD’S arm. Enter MRS. OSSORY and CARR, dressed for walking. MRS. OSSORY. She cut me ! You saw it ! She cut me absolutely dead ! CARR. Possibly she didn’t see you. [As MRS. OSSORY is not looking, he employs a gesture which lessens the likelihood of this, by calling attention to her bulk. MRS. OSSORY. I know she saw me. My only Duchess !