(The two women gush up to her and shake her hands.)

(Enter TEMPENNY and SYLVESTER. L.)

REMBRANDT TEMPENNY.

What’s this I see, do I dream?

CHARLES SYLVESTER.

Are visions about?

MRS. TEMPENNY (aside to TEMPENNY).

Why on earth didn’t you tell me?  They are engaged—­I might have offended him for life!

MRS. SYLVESTER (aside to SYLVESTER).

How stupid you were!  They are going to be married.  Why, you might never have got an order from him again!

REMBRANDT TEMPENNY.

Dear, dear, dear, but my very good friend, if this lady is going to be your wife, how about “Susannah?”

HENRICH SCHERCL.

Forgive me, “Susannah” cannot be.  I release you from the contract.

REMBRANDT TEMPENNY (aside).

Tidings of joy! (Aloud.) But—­but—­this is very hard on me.

HENRICH SCHERCL.

I release you, and I pay you just the same.

REMBRANDT TFMPENNY.

But she has had the money for a dozen sittings.

HENRICH SCHERCL.

I pay.

(Enter SUSAN.)

SUSAN.

If you please, sir, there’s a hofficer of the law downstairs and he wants Mr. Tempenny or forty pun’, sixteen shillings and ninepence.

REMBRANDT TEMPENNY (waving his hand).

Schercl!

HENRICH SCHERCL.

I pay—­and I gif you the balance by a jeque.

REMBRANDT TEMPENNY (with mock despair).

Pay—­you pay?  But the work of my life unfinished.—­What money can compensate for that?

(Sinks forlornly into chair.)

Curtain.

THE END.

PRINTING OFFICE OF THE PUBLISHER.