Twitters monologue — Poison: A Farce

(_playing with breakfast things_) All right. It’s absurd to think of this matter. In ninety-nine cases out of a hundred an anonymous letter is a lie, but if this should turn out to be the hundredth I should be a Borgia. Heavens. What a situation. Why, even my poor daughter would be blighted. I could never permit her to marry and to perpetuate a crime-stained race. I wonder what the effect of arsenic is. Happy thought. I’ll look it up in my encyclopædia. Glad to put the thing to some use. (_Takes down the volume._) A-r-t--a-r-s-e-n-i-c. That’s it. (_Reads._) “Arsenic is one of the most violent of the acrid poisons. Its use in medicine and toxicological properties are treated under medical jurisprudence.” Damn it. Just my luck. (_Looks at bookcase again._) My set stops at “Lam.” Pooh! Pooh! Why, even if the whole thing were true, twelve pounds. (_Looks at letter._) Yes, he says twelve pounds--in a whole warehouse full of sugar wouldn’t do more than improve the complexion of the public. I should be a benefactor. (_Enter Charles and Clara._)