SCENE III.--_Same as Scene I, Act I.--Lights half down, lime on.

ALPHONZO on ground, in the same position as he fell in the former scene._

_VENUS speaks, through music--"Is this a dream?"_

VENUS. (_Speaking to Alphonzo._) Ah, yours has been a troubled sleep, but now it's almost done! Your seeming worry here to-night I'm sure has caused much fun. Our humble aim has been to show to-night, That happiness can only spring from right. You young spark, though barbering your grade is, Fancy you're Adonis when among the ladies. Let this dream be a lesson--although in jest-- Be true to the one who loves you best. Farewell, young spark, awake from seeming pain, If this dream's a lesson taught, you have not dreamt in vain! Awake--Awake--Awake!

(_Gong.--Flash.--Limelight off._)

_Enter JANE and AUGUSTUS from Pavilion._

JANE. Oh, where is Alphonzo? Perhaps he's killed himself through my treating him so unkindly.

AUG. But, my dear young lady----

JANE. Don't "dear young lady me"! It's all through you. (_Trying to find Alphonzo._) I wonder where he is? I left him here. Ah, here he is! (_Sees him._) Ah, he is asleep. Wake up, Alphonzo! You'll catch a cold. Wake up.

(_Shakes him._)

ALPH. (_Waking up._) A horse--a horse! A kingdom for a horse!

AUG. (_Calling._) Four-wheeler!

ALPH. (_Seizing him._) Liar and slave, I've set my life upon the cast, and have sworn the hazard of the die! Six statues have I seen to-day--alive--alive--alive, oh!

(_Throws Augustus down._)

JANE. Whatever is the matter, Alphonzo? You must be dreaming!

ALPH. (_Recovering himself._) Eh! Dreaming? (_Looks at the figure; looks for ring. Finds it on ground._) Dreaming?--that's it! I've dreamt it! Oh, I've had such a fearful dream--worse than the jim-jams--but it's all right now! Here's the ring I bought, which I thought I'd lost. (_Puts it on Jane's finger._) Now, will I be your wife? I mean will you be my wife?

JANE. (_Shyly._) I don't know.

ALPH. Have me a week on trial! No, I don't mean that. You know what I mean. Will you--eh, one, two, three?

(_They embrace._)

AUG. But what about me?

ALPH. Oh, you go to the devil!

AUG. Awfully rude, old chappie!

ALPH. Well, let's get back to town.

JANE. Well, wish your friends in front good night.

ALPH. Good-night, ladies; good-night, gentlemen. You have been and seen my dream--I know you have, 'cause I heard you laughing! I thought I was going to be imprisoned.

JANE. So you are! Ain't you asked me to marry you?

ALPH. Oh, yes; then we're both going to do time--we are going to be transported for life.

(_Embrace.--Music, forte._)

CURTAIN.

ALSO BY THE SAME AUTHOR,

1,022. MULDOON'S PICNIC, A Transatlantic Comedy-Oddity, in Two Acts.

1,023. PECK'S BAD BOY, A Transatlantic Comedy, in Three Acts.

1,024. { ON THE BRAIN, A Nonsensical Piece of Absurdity, in One Act. { THE WAITER, A Farcical Sketch, in One Act.

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Transcriber's Note

A copy of the images used in this transcription has been posted at:

archive.org/details/PleonVisionOfVenus

In general, inconsistencies in spelling and grammar in the source text have not been changed. For example, Alphonzo's last name is spelled both "Latherem" and "Latherum". No attempt has been made to make the spelling consistent. On p. 7, a stage direction reads:

Alphonzo don't know what he's doing, goes to shave old man with fender, &c., and any silly business, ad lib.

The grammar has been retained. Emendations were made to correct for minor printing problems in the copy used in this transcription. For example, on p. 4, the text reads:

Jane. (_Cryi g_.) I ain't--I don't want to cajole you!

"_Cryi g_" was changed to "_Crying_". In cases such as this, the obvious reading was given the benefit of the doubt without comment.

The following changes were made to the text:

- p. 2: TABLEA--Changed to "TABLEAU"

- p. 5: AUGUSTUS. (_Calling from inside_) Latherum, are you coming?--Inserted a period after "inside" for consistency.

- p. 5: AUGUSTUS (_Inside._) She's gone into hysterics.--Inserted a period after "AUGUSTUS" for consistency.

- p. 6: window at back, with curtain, shaving chairs, shampooing table, &c.; table, chairs, &c., Screen at back.--Deleted the comma after "chairs, &c."

- p. 7: ALPH. (_Frightened_). I'm not guilty.--Put period after "(_Frightened_)" inside parenthesis for consistency.

- p. 7: I'll say what I've got to here. always deal straightforward.--Inserted the word "I" before "always".

The title page states that the play was "partly suggested" by F. Anstey's _Tinted Venus_, which is available through Project Gutenberg at:

www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/24197