The Brass Bottle: A Farcical Fantastic Play in Four Acts

unpleasantl

orks of the celebrated Belgian, which are reducing a limited number of spectators to t

made out a hopeless melancholiac! (He looks round the walls.) So these are Wiertz's masterpieces, eh? h'm. Strenuous, vigorous,-a trifle crude, perhaps. Didn't he refuse all offers for his pictures during his lifetime? Hardly think he could have been overwhelmed with applications for the one opposite. (He regards an enormous canvas, representing a brawny and gigantic Achilles

hter; who is reading to them aloud from the somewhat effusive Official

he artist's por-portrait?-portent?-no, protest against des-des-(recklessly) despoticism,

hat that there big arm and leg be

n the midst of some colonial?-That ain't it-colossial animiles fanat

terborough' at the 'ard words

he 'ero is to Peterborough and l

-read what it says

ords are useless 'ere. Before sech a pictur

ts (impres

reverently; Miss Trot

meet her). Good morning, Mis

self to exteriors wherever he can-says he doesn't seem to mix up his impression

And, by the way, Miss Trotter, I should like to take this opport

m he needn't try to give me away, for I

u say "that kind of man," I presume you refer to the description my-er-fr

ented you as one of the fonniest persons alive; said

! To have such odious calumnies circulated about one behind one's

time. And I want you to show me round this collection and give me a few notions. Seems to me there was considerable sand in Wiertz; sort of spread himself around a good deal, didn't he? I presume, though, he slept bad, nights. (

ot require my services. And, to be plain, my poor friend-though an excellent fellow according

yself, times. Likely he won't notice

e to inspect

De toughts and veesions of a saivered haid." Fairsst meenut afder degapitation; de zagonde; de tirt. Hier de haid ti

agaciously). Oh, ah, yes. C

rebresents Napoleon in hail. De modders show him de laigs and ahums of

cheery pic

ough, he slept

see? A Mad Voman cooking her shildt in a gettle. Hier again, dey haf puried a man viz de g

chard with their backs to him.) Hal-lo, this is luck! I must go to the rescue, or that beggar Culchard will bore her to death in no time. (To Guide.) Here, hold on a minute. (Crosses to Culchar

a very sensible plan, no doubt,

m, most intelligent chap-great fun. Mr. Culc

hoin, yais? Same for tree as fo

r. Podbury, but your friend is e

ad better dismiss my chap,

e you do that. Keep on going rou

without us. Just show me something more in the blood-and-th

ary amusant. You know de sc

oh, I see-Wishes!

gloomy abstraction.) ... And inschdantly she vind a gra

I've heard all that.

vilization flodderin up viz de vings, vile Brogress preaks asond

ly). What's he

begause dey are bosts, or (du

ry, I'm off. Going to lunch somewhere with the-ah-Trotters.

he wanted to keep out of making friends! How the dickens am I going to g

uy som real Prussels lac

no occasion for any a

Gallery, while the Imperfectly Educated Daughter goes on