92 MEMORIES OF MEN AND HORSES 



If anything happens that cat the Duchess will never 

 forgive us ! Did you ever see the like ? Run, James, 

 run for Mr Johnson, the chemist. But, upon my word, 

 there he is just passing. Mr Johnson ! Mr Johnson ! 

 (shouting up area steps to him). 



(Enter JOHNSON.) 



JOHNSON. Good-morning, madam, what is it you 

 want ? 



MRS STOUT (hysterical). Oh, sir, look at that blessed 

 cat! (The CAT rushes round the kitchen clawing at its 

 jaws.) We must cure it somehow or the Duchess will 

 go mad. What is the matter with it, Mr Johnson? 

 You are a chemist, and of course you know ! 



JOHNSON. H'm ! let me see. Here, puss, puss (tries to 

 take hold of the cat, which scratches him badly). D n ! 

 And a cat's scratch is poisonous, too ! (aside). 



MRS STOUT. Poison ! Did you say poison ? Oh dear, 

 oh dear, to think that poor Tom should have been 

 poisoned! Oh, Mr Johnson, whatever shall I do? I 

 feel it to be a reflection on me and the dear Duchess 

 will never get over it. But are you sure he is 

 poisoned ? 



JOHNSON. I never said he was poisoned. 



MRS STOUT. Yes, you did, you know you did, and it is 

 mistaken kindness on your part to deny it. Our duty 

 is plain we must go and inform her Grace at once. 

 Come, Mr Johnson, you go ; pray do. You can break 

 the news to her Grace so much better than anyone else, 

 and she will not forget, after the first blow, that you 

 were the man who assisted and sympathised. Go, go, 

 at once ! 



(JOHNSON is sent upstairs, the CAT grows rapidly worse, 

 and MRS STOUT faints.) 



