MANDERS. Oh, he has driven me distracted--

ENGSTRAND. [Enters through the hall.] Your Reverence--

MANDERS. [Turns round in terror.] Are you after me here, too?

ENGSTRAND. Yes, strike me dead, but I must--! Oh, Lord! what am I
saying? But this is a terrible ugly business, your Reverence.

MANDERS. [Walks to and fro.] Alas! alas!

REGINA. What's the matter?

ENGSTRAND. Why, it all came of this here prayer-meeting, you see.
[Softly.] The bird's limed, my girl. [Aloud.] And to think it
should be my doing that such a thing should be his Reverence's
doing!

MANDERS. But I assure you, Engstrand--

ENGSTRAND. There wasn't another soul except your Reverence as ever
laid a finger on the candles down there.

MANDERS. [Stops.] So you declare. But I certainly cannot recollect
that I ever had a candle in my hand.

ENGSTRAND. And I saw as clear as daylight how your Reverence took
the candle and snuffed it with your fingers, and threw away the
snuff among the shavings.