Excerpt from The Bat and the Ball: Or Negative Evidence, a Farce in One Act

Girlygirl (looking out of window). Not in sight yet. No, I had too good a start. {Down C.) After a delightful evening at the Policeman's Ball - the more enjoyable because strictly on the quiet - I was crowding my way to the coat-room, when whom should I see but my respected employer, Mr. Film, who probably thought me, as I certainly had imagined him, at home and in bed! I had just time to dive between the legs of the man behind me, ana, unnoticed by him, to gain the street, coatless, hatless, but not altogether bootless, thanks to the obliging gentleman who kicked me downstairs for running against him. Brr! wasn't it cold, though, for this piece of pasteboard producing coat-check), though the equivalent of a coat, a hat, and an umbrella, was a precious poor protection against the weather. But I haven't a minute to lose. Old Film can't be far behind me, and if he catches me in these togs, good-by to my reputation as a steady young man and a desirable partner in the business. (Key heard in door.) By Christmas! here he is now. {Exit 2 e. R. hastily.)

About the Publisher

Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com

This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully, any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.