come once more to talk with you, Doctor, upon this surprising art, which, though you have taken such great pains to explain, I am still far from comprehending so much as I think I ought.

La Fleur. I will, before long, give you such proof.

Enter LISETTE, followed by JEFFREY, L.

Lis. O, save me! save me! or I am a dead woman.
Doc. (R.) What's the matter?

Jef. (L.) This is no joke; and I won't take it as such. Lis. [Goes between La Fleur and Doctor.] Have a care of him; speak low, he'll be at us.

Doc. Will be at us?

Lis. [In a low voice.] Jeffrey is mad!
Doc. What do you say?

[ Crosses, R.

Lis. I found him in his bed, gnawing the bed-clothes; and when he saw me, he would have gnawed me. [The Doctor turns to him.] Dou't look at him, sir, don't look at him. Doc. Why, I don't think this possible; the dog that bit him was not

Lis. Indeed, sir, he was as mad as ever

La Fleur. Indeed, the poor creature looks as if some horrible infection had seized him.

Doc. Why, I can't say but I think he does.

Lis. And I'll give you the true proof immediately.

[Takes a glass of water, and throws it on him. Jef. (L.) What's that for; how dare you use me thus ? [In a great passion. Lis. There; you see what a dislike he has to water. La Fleur. That is a symptom which confirms our suspicions.

Doc. [With an air of skill.] An evident sign of the hydrophobia.

La Fleur. Yes, of the hydrophobia—

[Lisette comes with another glass of water, to throw at him; he starts over to R. Lis. See, see, how he looks, only at the sight of water. Jef. If you dare throw any more upon-[Holds up his hand.]

Doc. Lisette, let him alone; it is dangerous to push the poor creature to extremities. Doctor, suppose we magnetise him?

La Fleur. No; magnetism, in cases like this, can have no effect

Doc. What remedy theu ?

La Fleur. I know of but one, and that is, to smother him.

Lis. The only thing in the world.

Doc. And we ought to lose no time, if it must be done.

Jef. (R.) What, smother me! [Falls on his knees to the Doctor.] Oh! sir, have pity on me.

Doc. (R.c.) Don't be frightened; it will be over in ten minutes.

Jef. But I had rather not.

Doc. Ungrateful wretch! do you consider the consequence of living?

Lis. (R.) For shame, Jeffrey; don't ask such a thing. Doc. But, since he wou't consent with a good grace, we must seize him all three together.

Jef. Ah, mercy, what will become of me?

Lis. Aside to Jeffrey.] Run out of the house, and never come back, if you would save your life. [Jeffrey runs off, L. La Fleur. He sha'n't escape; stop him there!

[Exit after him, L. Doc. Why, he has run into the street; what a deal of mischief he may cause; and, as I am alive, he has run away with all the keys in his pocket.

Lis. But, luckily, the doors are open.

Doc. But, why does not the Doctor come back?

Lis. Depend upon it, he will not leave him, till he has secured him in some safe place where he can do no mischief.

Enter CONSTANCE, R.

Con. Dear sir, come to the assistance of your patient: he has followed me to my chamber, aud frightened me out of my senses: I thought he was going to die. Indeed, sir, he is very ill; I am sure he can't live long.

Enter MARQUIS, R. creeping slowly to the couch, as if unable to walk.

Mar. Oh, Doctor, relieve me from this pressure, or I die.

Doc. I wish my brother physician was returned. [Alarmed.] Come, sir, lean your head this way; where is your complaint?

Mar. Here, here it lies. [Laying his hand on his stomach.] I fear this will be the last hour of my life.

Doc. No, no; I hope not. [Magnetising him sometimes

with one end of the wand, and sometimes with the other.] Mar. The malady changes its place. Oh, my head; remove it from my head, make it descend. [ The Doctor more frighted.] Now it flies to my heart; it sets it on fire; it tears it to pieces.

Doc. I wish the Doctor would return.

Can't

Mar. My tortures redouble-vultures gnaw me. you remove them? [Attempts again to magnetise.] No, no ; my strength fails me-my eyes lose their sight-I die[Groans, sinks on the couch, and remains motionless. Lis. Oh! he's dead-he's dead-he's dead.

[Crying. Con. [In tears too.] What will become of us all?—he's dead-he's dead. [They cross to and fro.

Doc. I am quite shocked at it-but, my dear children, don't make such a noise. [Trembling.] The neighbours will hear you, and they will say I have killed him, with some of my experiments.

Lis. It was that fatal wand you put upon his heart.

Doc. Yes, I suppose I directed the fluid the wrong way; but, perhaps, he only fainted-who knows but we may recover him, I will go and find some of my new invented drops, which may, perhaps, restore him. [Feels in his pocket]; and that poor unhappy Jeffrey has taken away the key of my cabinet, where all my drops are.

Con. [R.] Break open the locks then, there is no time to lose.

Doc. And Doctor Mystery not to return;-every thing conspires to ruin me. [Crosses R.] I was loth to receive this patient into my house,- my heart foreboded some ill consequence. Dear me! dear me!

[Erit, R. in great areasiness. Mar. [Rising.] If my scheme succeeds, the consequence will be such as you little dream of. Where is La Fleur ? Lis. Gone to secure Jeffrey somewhere out of the house. Mar. If he does not return soon, all my long-concerted plan is overturned.

Lis. Here he is.

Enter LA FLEUR, L.

La Fleur. I have lodged him safe for these two days. Mar. Taking off his robe.] Give me your clothes, and take this immediately, and be dead.

La Fleur. Dead! what do you mean?

[Crosses, c.

Mar. Ask no questions; but lie down on that couch, and counterfeit being dead.

Lis. Your master has been doing it this half hour. La Fleur. [Dressing himself.] It is very strange; but since you command it

Mar. Dare not stir, or breathe!-All depends on your acting well; you must have your face powdered, [Lisette powders his face.] that he may not know you.

La Fleur. Now, I am in character.

Mar. Where are my people?

La Fleur. At the tavern in the next street, both disguised like Doctors.

Mar. That's right; I fly to them directly.
La Fleur. Your night cap, your night cap.

[Going, L.

[Marquis throws it to him. Mar. And give me your wig. [Puts it on.] I hear the Doctor coming. Farewell! play your part to a miracle.

Con. And heaven prosper your designs!

[Exit, L.

La Fleur. [Sitting on the couch.] But what does all this mean? I don't understand.

Lis. Hush! dead people never speak.

[Throws him down on the couch.

Enter DOCTOR, R.

Doc. Well, how is he, what does he say?

Lis. Why, like all other persons in his state, he does not complain.

Doc. Hold this bottle to his nose, and sprinkle this on his face.

Con. Alas! he is gone, and nothing can be of use.

Doc. How a few moments have changed him: I should'nt have known him again; he's as white as ashes: lay your hand upon his heart, Lisette, and feel if it beats at all; for my part, I am so disconcerted with the accident, I am fit for nothing.

Lis. [Lays her hand on his heart.] All is still, sir.
Doc. Is there no motion?

Lis. None in the least-[Slaps his face]—like marble[Slaps again]- has little feeling in it.

Doc. Doctor Mystery not returning, I conceive this was a plot upon me.

Lis. And this poor creature was in the plot, you think, and died on purpose to bring it about?

Doc. No; but the other found he could not cure him, and so left the disgrace of his death to me; and my enemies

will take the advantage of it,-considering how many of

my patients have died lately.

Lis. What are we to do with the body?

Doc. I have yet one hope left; it is my last, and I won't hesitate, but about it instantly.

Con. What resource?

Doc. [To Lisette.] He is certainly dead, is he not?
Lis. Certainly! there can be no doubt of that.

Doc. And, do what we will, nothing worse can happen to him.

Lis No, certainly, not in this world.

Doc. Well then, I will try an experiment upon him, which I once read, and I have often had a vast mind to try it upon Jeffrey; but, as he was alive, it might have proved fatal.

Lis. What is it?

Doc. No matter, you shall see it performed, and I can't say I have much doubt of its success. Begin to take off some of his garments, while I go and get all the apparatus ready.

[Exit. La Fleur. But I am not such a fool to stay till you come ; my master may say what he will, but I will go

back

away.

Lis. Nonsense, man! have you not undertaken to be dead? Come, finish your part with a good grace.

Con. Pray do, La Fleur.

La Fleur. But what experiment is he going to try upon me? I always hated doctors, and would never let any one of them come near me.

Con. But this is not a doctor; the college have refused to admit him; so don't be afraid.

La Fleur. O! if that's the case.

Lis. [Throws him down as before.] Hush! play your part.

Enter DOCTOR, with a bag of instruments, R.

Doc. Lisette, help me with these instruments, and then run and watch that skillet of oil on the fire, and, when it boils, bring it hither.

Lis. But, suppose any body should come in while we are trying the experiment?

Doc. Right I'll lock the door, my fright makes me forget every thing.

La Fleur. Let me see the instruments.

[Exit, L.