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LOUISE. It is possible he was one of the three men who arrived at San Francisco nearly a week ago.
MRS. CARLEY. Who were taken prisoners by the Ladrones and escaped?
LOUISE. Yes! The three men who got away from Cebu in a boat and were picked up by a German steamer. It seems more than probable. They got one name wrong in the despatches, making it "_Richard Cotten_"--who was also missing--instead of "_Richard Coleman_."
MRS. CARLEY. But how did you find out all this?
LOUISE. From Mrs. Coleman. And it's all in the morning paper, and we never took the trouble to look!
MRS. CARLEY. I read the society notes--it wasn't in there.
LOUISE. Well, the Colemans saw it and telegraphed at once to Was.h.i.+ngton for confirmation.
MRS. CARLEY. Did they get it?
LOUISE. Not yet. But we're all in the greatest hopes!
MRS. CARLEY. But if d.i.c.k Coleman was with those other men in San Francisco, why didn't he telegraph home?
LOUISE. That's the one thing that makes still a dreadful doubt. [_Rises and rings the bell._] The Colemans are nearly mad waiting for their reply from Was.h.i.+ngton.
MRS. CARLEY. Shall you tell Georgiana?
[_She rises._
LOUISE. Not till we are a little more certain. It would be dreadful to open the wound of her grief again for nothing. Oh, if it's only true!
MRS. CARLEY. And you've seen Steve?
LOUISE. Yes, he went off at once to the newspaper to see how authentic their information was, and then he was going on to the Colemans. [MOLES _enters Left in answer to the bell._] Moles, bring me the morning paper.
MOLES. [_Unable to suppress his excitement._] I've read it, m'm! We're all nearly crazy over it downstairs. Lizzie's took to crying and can't answer her bells.--Is it true, Mrs. Carley?
LOUISE. Yes, we hope it's true, Moles.
MOLES. Thank G.o.d, m'm, if you'll excuse me!
LOUISE. But we're not sure yet, and you mustn't let anything drop before Miss Georgiana till we are certain.
MOLES. No, m'm.
[_He goes out._
MRS. CARLEY. Oughtn't we to give Georgiana a hint to prepare her in some way?
LOUISE. Perhaps, if we do it very carefully.
MRS. CARLEY. It seems awful to me not to tell her right out. Of course we won't have d.i.c.k Coleman's money to help live on now, if he's back.
LOUISE. Never mind that, mother.
[MOLES _returns with the paper._
MOLES. Here is the paper, m'm, and Miss s.h.i.+ndle is come--she says to interview the drawing-room.
LOUISE. Very well--tell Miss Georgiana.
MOLES. Yes, m'm.
[_Goes out Right._ LOUISE _looks through the paper._ MOLES _brings in_ BELLA. BELLA _shows signs of suppressed excitement._
BELLA. Oh, Mrs. Carley, have you seen the papers--isn't it splendid?
LOUISE. Yes, if it's only true. We're trying to make sure!
[LOUISE _finds the place in the paper._
MRS. CARLEY. [_Rising._] She doesn't know yet.
BELLA. Oh, Mrs. Carley!
LOUISE. We're waiting to be _sure_, and that we may be almost any minute.
BELLA. Mercy! I don't see how you can keep it to yourself.
MRS. CARLEY. You might give her a little hint, Bella, if you get a chance.
BELLA. I wouldn't dare. If I opened my mouth wide enough to give her a hint, I know it would all burst out!
LOUISE. As soon as Mr. Carley comes, make an excuse to leave her, won't you? We expect him to bring us some definite news?
BELLA. Yes, indeed!
[MRS. CARLEY _and_ LOUISE _go out Left, as_ GEORGIANA _comes in._
GEORGIANA. [_Pleasantly._] Good morning, Bella.
[_She sits by the table._
BELLA. Good morning, ain't it a fine morning?
GEORGIANA. Is it? I haven't been out.
BELLA. I'm scared to death. [_Laughing nervously._] I ain't going to write the article myself, you know. It's my sister's husband's friend--she's real literary enough! She's got a typewriter.
GEORGIANA. One can't do everything in this world, Bella, and you must be content with being a real _artiste_ in your own profession.
BELLA. Yes, I will say without boasting, so to speak, I don't believe there's a soul in New York who can make hair go further and wear less, than me! [_Laughs heartily._] What's this room? Of course it's one of them Louis, I suppose, ain't it? [_Looks around the room._] Let me see, is it Louis Eleventimes? I saw Henry Irving in that, it was fine!
