Note
Reading edition
Readers of this dialogue may need to be reminded, for clearer understanding, of the following sequence of events. On November 15th, 1890, a decree nisi was pronounced in the undefended divorce suit O’Shea v. O’Shea and Parnell. On November 24th, Gladstone, in a letter to John Morley, stated that Parnell’s retention of the Irish leadership would be fatal to his own continued advocacy of the Irish cause. In December, the majority of the Irish Party threw over Parnell in order to placate the “Nonconformist conscience,” and retain the co-operation of the Liberal Party under Gladstone’s leadership. During the months following, Parnell and his adherents suffered a series of defeats at by-elections in Ireland. In June 1891, immediately on the decree nisi being made absolute, Parnell married Katharine O’Shea. On October 6th he died.
Dramatis Personæ.
Charles Stewart Parnell (Dethroned “King” of Ireland).
Katharine Parnell (His wife: divorced wife of Captain O’Shea).
A Man (Ex-valet to Captain O’Shea).
A Servant.