MRS. BEMIS, incredulously: 'Papa!'

BEMIS: 'But there were several of them. Have they all been
arrested?'

LAWTON: 'There was only one, and none of him has been arrested.'

MRS. CRASHAW: 'Where is he, then?'

LAWTON: 'In this house.'

MRS. CRASHAW: 'Now, Dr. Lawton, you and I are old friends--I
shouldn't like to say HOW old--but if you don't instantly be
serious, I--I'll carry my rheumatism to somebody else.'

LAWTON: 'My DEAR Mrs. Crashaw, you know how much I prize that
rheumatism of yours! I will be serious--I will be only too serious.
The garotter is Mr. Roberts himself.'

ALL, horror-struck: 'Oh!'

LAWTON: 'He went out without his watch. He thought he was robbed,
but he wasn't. He ran after the supposed thief, our poor friend
Bemis here, and took Bemis's watch away, and brought it home for his
own.'

YOUNG BEMIS: 'Yes, but--'

MRS. BEMIS: 'But, papa--'