Oakhurst. Good! You have fulfilled your orders well, and your
chief shall know it. Go now. Be as cautious in going out as you
were on entering. Here is the private staircase. (Opens door L.)
[Exit policeman.

Oakhurst (listening). Gone! and without disturbing any one. So
far, luck has befriended me. He will sleep to-night beneath his
father's roof. His father! umph! would the old man recognize him
here? Would he take to his heart this drunken outcast, picked from
the gutters of the street, and brought here by the strong arm of
the law? Hush! (A knock without.) Ah, it is the colonel: he is
prompt to the hour. (Opens door cautiously, and admits COL.
STARBOTTLE.)

Starbottle (looking around, and overlooking SANDY). I presume the
other--er--principal is not yet on the ground?

Oakhurst (motioning to sofa). He IS!

Starbottle (starting as he looks towards sofa). Ged, you don't
mean to say it's all OVER, without witnesses, without my--er--
presence?

Oakhurst. Pardon me, Col. Starbottle; but, if you look again, you
will perceive that the gentleman is only drunk.

Starbottle. Eh? Ged! not uncommon, sir, not uncommon! I remember
singular incident at--er--Louisville in '47. Old Judge Tollim--
know old Judge Tolly?--Ged! he came to ground drunk, sir; couldn't