Scene VIII
Setting: Forest, next to the path, nighttime.
At rise: Watts and Holmes are crouched behind bushes next to the path. The moon casts a pale glow; they can see around them.
Watts: Holmes, have you seen anything yet?
Holmes (condescendingly): Patience, my friend. After years of studying the criminal mind, I have discovered that it pays to wait a while. Let him come to us.
Watts: But I'm hungry!
Holmes: We are about to unmask a master criminal and you are thinking about your stomach? REALLY, Watts, I thought you had more professionalism than that. (Both return to watching the path closely, and a few seconds later a lonesome howl is heard.)
Watts (quite nervously): Holmes, are there wolves around this area?
Holmes (trying unsuccessfully to conceal his own fright): Oh yes, I'm positive there are. Most likely a few bears, too. Nothing to worry about, though. They're more afraid of us than we are of them. (Watts shudders and crouches even lower behind the bush. All of a sudden a light is seen at the end of the path. Their heads swing in the direction of the light, and the Hound comes into sight on stage right. Its mouth is hanging open, and glowing saliva is dripping from its tongue. It barks, the bark of the Toothless Hound! Suddenly it picks up a scent and bounds off stage left. A few seconds later a scream is heard.)
Watts: Holmes, what was that?
Holmes: It is the perpetrator of these evil deeds! It must belong to that psychotic butcher, Bolshevik. (Suddenly his face lights up. Another "brilliant" idea has struck him.) Watts, I have the most ingenious idea! We'll hold a town meeting tomorrow and publicly unmask him. I, of course, will be the one to do this duty. You may watch, and learn my methods.
Watts (in admiration): I would be honored to do so, sir! (Pauses.) Wait a minute. What about that scream we just heard?
Holmes: Oh, there's no need to investigate. Whoever it is will be perfectly all right. The other lady survived, didn't she? Come, my bubble pipe is calling. (Both stand up, brush themselves off, and exit stage right. Immediately following, a figure in black, unrecognizable to the audience, lifts himself from the floor in front of the stage and creeps onto it.)
Figure in Black (in a stage whisper): Here, boy! (Whistles.) Come one, I've got a treat for you! (Hound comes bounding on from stage left, and the two begin walking off stage right. Curtains close.)