If you molest me, blood will be
shed.
CLEVELAND. [_Drawing a pistol._] I am better armed than you supposed,
sir. It would be awkward for any collision to occur in the presence of
a lady, and yet I shall not hesitate to do my duty. If you are really
Captain Fuller, I shall be very glad to shake hands and drink a glass
of wine with you; if Captain Armstrong, you _must_ become my prisoner.
ROSE. [_Standing by her chair, trembling._] Gentlemen! Gentlemen!
WALTER. I have but one reply to make: if you attempt to arrest me, I
shall defend myself--and will escape if I can.
[_Several shots fired within_.
_Enter_ MR. METCALF _suddenly, pursued by_ TWO SOLDIERS.
CLEVELAND. Ha!
METCALF. [_Not seeing_ CLEVELAND, _and rushing up to_ WALTER.] Bless
me, Captain Armstrong.
CLEVELAND. Oh, then he is Captain Armstrong.
ROSE. [_With great suddenness._] Captain Fuller, Mr. Metcalf--don't
play your jests here--Captain Fuller, sir.
METCALF. Eh! Eh! [_Looking confused from one to another._] A jest,
Captain Fuller--capital--ha, ha, ha--[_Aside to_ ROSE.] What mischief
have I tumbled into now, and who is that fellow in a very red coat and
a very white wig?
ROSE. [_Aside to him._] Major Cleveland.
METCALF. Major Cleveland! We are all hanged and quartered--though for
the matter of that, in my capacity of expounder of the alphabet,
I've been quartered--on the neighbourhood, these ten years past.
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