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514
ROBIN
Sir, you're. leaving I You promised me
you'd lead me to my kinsman's house.
Please, let me help you with the flags.
CLERGYMAN
I'll see you later.
I
have to hurry.
I
have a sick parishioner,
a whole sick parish!
I
have a notion
one of these flags
will
cure us. Which?
Everyone's so emphatic here.
ROIIERT LOWELL
If
you should meet your kinsman, tell him
I'm praying for him in my church.
(CLERGYMAN
goes out. A loud "hem, hem" is heard. The
MAN IN
THE PERIWIG
comes jauntily forward followed by the
BARBERS.
He
goes to the house with the bay window and raps with his cane. The
light inside the house goes on. A rattlesnake flag has been nailed to
the door. No one sees
ROBIN
and the
Boy.)
FIRST BARBER
Look, your Honor, Mrs. Clark
has taken on the Rattlesnake.
MAN
~TH
PERIWIG
Good, this pricks my fainting courage.
"Don't tread on me!" That's rather odd
for Mrs. Clark.
FIRST BARBER
Come on, your Honor.
SECOND BARBER
There's always a first time.
FIRST BARBER
Then a second.
MAN
~TH
PERIWIG
Thank God, I've but one life to give
my country. They say it's like cold mutton.
Lay on, Macduff! lowe
this
to
my reputation, Boys.
FIRST BARBER
He owes
his reputation to the boys.
(Continued on Page
566)