Front matter

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THE BENEFIT

OF THE DOUBT

THE PLAYS OF ARTHUR W. PINERO

WITH INTRODUCTORY NOTES

By MALCOLM C. SALAMAN

Paper cover, 1s. 6d.; cloth, 2s. 6d. each

In 16mo

Vol. I. THE TIMES

” II. THE PROFLIGATE

” III. THE CABINET MINISTER

” IV. THE HOBBY-HORSE

” V. LADY BOUNTIFUL

” VI. THE MAGISTRATE

” VII. DANDY DICK

” VIII. SWEET LAVENDER

” IX. THE SCHOOLMISTRESS

” X. THE WEAKER SEX

” XI. THE AMAZONS

Also

In small 4to.

” XII. THE SECOND MRS. TANQUERAY

” XIII. THE NOTORIOUS MRS. EBBSMITH

” XIV. THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT

LONDON: WILLIAM HEINEMANN

MDCCCXCVI

THE BENEFIT

OF THE DOUBT

A COMEDY

In Three Acts

By ARTHUR W. PINERO

LONDON: WILLIAM HEINEMANN

MDCCCXCVI

Copyright 1895 All rights reserved Entered at Stationers’ Hall Entered at the Library of Congress, Washington, U.S.A.

This Play was produced at the Comedy Theatre, London, on Wednesday, October 16th, 1895

THE PERSONS OF THE PLAY

Mrs. Emptage (a widow)

Claude Emptage (her son)

Justina Emptage Theophila Fraser} (her daughters)

Sir Fletcher Portwood, M.P. (her brother)

Mrs. Cloys (her sister)

Rt. Rev. Anthony Cloys, D.D., Bishop of St. Olpherts

Alexander Fraser—“Fraser of Locheen”

John Allingham

Olive Allingham

Denzil Shafto Peter Elphick} (Allingham’s Friends)

Mrs. Quinton Twelves

Horton (a servant at Mrs. Emptage’s)

Quaife (a servant at Mr. Allingham’s)

The scenes are placed at Mrs. Emptage’s house, in the neighbourhood of Regent’s Park, and at “The Lichens,” Mr. Allingham’s cottage at Epsom.

The events of the First and Second Acts occur on the same day,day, those of the Third Act about fifteen hours afterwards.

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