CHAPTER IV,

Observer, Volume 2, Issue 43, 9 July 1881, Page 477

CHAPTER IV,

WRONG LINES.

Towards the end of the season which was also the termination of the engagement, the members of the Great Galaxy Company each took a benefit, and great were their endeavours to secure a good attendance by providing some novel attraction. Mr George Gruby hit upon a very happy idea. Jemmy Passmore had always been a favourite in , and now that he had left the dramatic profession for that of letters, a re-appearance couldn't fail to prove a good draw, so Mr Gruby repaired to the office of his erstwhile confrere, and said, '-Jemmy, we had a little unpleasantness over you know what and whom, but on my part, its forget and forgive, and I don't bear any ani-* mosity. Will you do me a great favour ?' *

' What is the nature of it ?' asked Jemmy, quietly. 'Why,' said Gruby, 'I take a benefit on Friday, and if you would play a part there will be a good stalls and circles, I know.' Jemmy looked at Gruby. ' What is the piece ? he asked.

Oh, Utting^s 'Honour.' • Jeimny.sJarfced up, and if Gniby had watched him intenflj; he would have seen, even though his face was averted, evidences of a fearful

mental struggle. Utting's play of 'Honour,' a very powerful drama, had for its plot the story of a husband who discovers the proofs of his Avife's infidelity and the cause of his dishonour, a scoundrel whom he had castigated, and, after telling the latter how he had unmasked him, shoots him dead.

'You play ?' 'Everard, of course,' said Gruby. ' I will play Rudolph,' Jemmy said, quietly. '.Right, my boy,' exclaimed Gruby, 'I will see you properly billed, and remunerate yoii in any way you think fit— in reason, of course.'

'I shall be repaid,' responded Jemmy, 'by having the opportunity to repay you a debt I owe you.'

'Not at all,' gaily said Gruby, 'I thought you would like one more smack at the makeup box, aucl so I asked you. lam glad you like the idea.'

Jemmy's reappearance did draw, not only a good circle and stalls, but a big house in all parts, for he had ability and had shown it in both of his professions, and the public are not slow to recognize talent. The play went splendidly, and Jemmy was applauded to the echo. How magnificently lie portrayed the growing love for his sweetheart, and the more subdued but stronger affection for his wife ! How magnificently, when the time came, he evinced the incipient mistrust and fully developed hatred, as the fact of his wife's faithlessness and Everard's treachery became apparent. His fierce loathing of Gruby, as the villain, was too realistic, and the house trembled and rose at him.

In the last act, the wife has confessed her guilt, and Rudolph iinds in her possession — after her death of a broken heart — a document setting forth Everard's guilt. Everard enters, quite unconscious of detection. The body of the dead woman is lying in the ante-chamber. Rudolph hands Everard the evidence of his treachery, and, calling him * Destroyer of human souls, lecher and fiend,' shoots him dead.

'I say,' said Gruby to Jemmy, before the latter went in for the last scene, 'fire that infernal pistol in the flies. I hate this part of the business. The report ought to he done at the wings, and the weapon presented only.' ' Never fear,' said Jemmy, ' I will aim right enough. The time came ! Gruby went in for the climax. Jemmy, as Rudolph, in return for his salutation and professions of friendship, handed him the criminating document, and presented the pistol at his breast ! Gruby read the paper, grew ghastly pale, and cried in horror, 'He is going to murder me, seize him !' ' No, no, ' said the man at the book, ' wrong, wrong, it is "Give me time for repentance or to prove my innocence.'" Jemmy never heeded the interpolation, but stuck to his lines, ' Destroyer of human souls, lecher and fiend,' and fired ! It was Gruby's turn for realism, now. Throwing up his arms, he gave a wild bound — a cry — a fearful groan, and fell — shot, dead ! The cry of horror was echoed by many. A scene ensued, and Jemmy, who offered no resisrance, was seized ! *