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tly takes a bottle from the wedding-table, and sits with it, L._ MACAIRE. Bertrand, there's a devil of a want of a father here. BERTRAND. Ay, if we only knew where to find him. MACAIRE. Bertrand, look at me: I am Macaire; I am that father. BERTRAND. You, Macaire?--you a father? MACAIRE. Not yet, but in five minutes. I am capable of anything. (_Producing key._) What think you of this? BERTRAND. That? Is it a key? MACAIRE. Ay, boy, and what besides? my diploma of respectability, my patent of fatherhood. I prigged it--in the ardour of the dance I prigged it; I change it beyond recognition, thus (_twists the handle of the key_); and now...? Where is my long-lost child? produce my young policeman, show me my gallant boy. BERTRAND. I don't understand. MACAIRE. Dear innocence, how should you? Your brains are in your fists. Go and keep watch. (_He goes into the office and returns with the cash-box._) Keep watch, I say. BERTRAND. Where? MACAIRE. Everywhere. (_He opens box._) BERTRAND. Gold. MACAIRE. Hands off! Keep watch. (_BERTRAND at back of stage._) Beat slower, my paternal heart! The third compartment! let me see. BERTRAND. S'st! (_MACAIRE shuts box._) No: false alarm. MACAIRE. The third compartment. Ay, here t---- BERTRAND. S'st! (_Same business._) No: fire away. MACAIRE. The third compartment: it must be this. BERTRAND. S'st. (_MACAIRE keeps box open, watching BERTRAND._) All serene: it's the wind. MACAIRE. Now, see here! (_He darts his knife into the stage._) I will either be backed as a man should be, or from this minute out I'll work alone. Do you understand? I said alone. BERTRAND. For the Lord's sake, Macaire!---- MACAIRE. Ay, here it is. (_Reading letter._) "Preserve this letter secretly; its terms are known only to you and me; hence when the time comes, I shall repeat them, and my son will recognise his father." Signed: "Your Unknown Benefactor." (_He hums it over twice and replaces it. Then, fingering the gold._) Gold! The yellow enchantress, happiness ready-made and laughing in my face! Gold: what is gold? The world; the term of ills; the empery of all; the multitudinous babble of the 'Change, the sailing from all ports of freighted argosies; music, wine, a palace; the doors of the bright theatre, the key of consciences, and--love's--love's whistle! All this below my itching fingers; and to set this by, turn a deaf ear upon the siren present, and condescend once m
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