LIBELLOUS DOUBT OF POISON 95 



as I find the Duchess is ill in bed, where I have vainly 

 endeavoured to interview her, I have, on her suggestion, 

 come to you for the information, which none can give 

 so well as yourself. (The CAT at this moment pursues a 

 mouse into the scullery and is lost to view.) The cat 

 looks fairly well, Mrs Stout, under the circumstances. 



MRS STOUT. He does, sir, he does ; but (impressively) 

 don't think that you or anyone else will be allowed to 

 go into the scullery to see him till after the cat show. 



JINKS. I fully appreciate your most proper precaution. 

 I suppose there is no doubt he was really poisoned ? 



MRS STOUT. Poisoned! Not he. The Duchess was 

 too hasty, you know. Why, he only got a fish bone in 

 his throat. Mr Johnson, the chemist, and Mr Muffler, 

 the chiropodist, will confirm this. 



JINKS. And did he not nearly die? The Duchess, 

 you know, said so. 



MRS STOUT. Die ! Nonsense ! 



JINKS. And you do not mind my publishing this? 



MRS STOUT. Of course I don't. Our motto is to 

 keep nothing back. 



[Exit JINKS to prepare sensational interview. 



SCENE V 

 The DUCHESS' Boudoir 



(The DUCHESS, purple with rage, reading "The Daily 



Buster") 



DUCHESS. Oh, that I should ever live to be flouted by 

 my own domestics, and told that I was too hasty and 

 my cat was never poisoned at all! (Tears up paper.) 

 Fortunately my lawyer is coming, and should already be 

 here. Ha ! there he is. 



