is over almost as soon as it began. The angry crowd grows surly, but one spokesman suggests that if they keep them to themselves, and allow everyone in the town to feel cheated, the entire town will want the same revenge. There are a few more shows featuring the cameleopard, each one shorter than the last. At the final show of the evening, the crowd pulls down the "magic curtain" revealing the King and Duke as charlatans. The foursome manages to escape on the raft in the nick of time. Scene 4 The King and the Duke rejoice in their success - $165. Huck reckons that all kings and dukes are rapscallions. In the next town, the King disguises himself as a minister and forces Huck to don his new city clothes. They leave the raft to see what they can "scare up out of the local flatheads." At the dock, they encounter a talkative young boy named Tim Collins, who inquires whether The King might be Harvey Wilkes, the preacher arriving from England for the reading of his long lost brother’s will. The youngster explains that Peter Wilkes had two brothers, Harvey and William, whom he desperately wanted to see again before he died. Sadly, he died last night, but has left a letter detailing where his money is hidden, and how his property is to be divided amongst his brothers and three nieces. Sensing a golden opportunity, the King quizzes Tim further on the details of the situation and then sends the boy off on his journey to far away Rio de Janeiro. Back at camp, the King and the Duke devise a plan. The Duke will masquerade as William, who is deaf and dumb. The King will pose as Harvey. Huck will go along and carry their bags. Jim will stay behind. Huck protests that he does not want to leave Jim alone, but Jim assures him all will be fine. Alone, Jim sings about how he’d like to settle down with his family someday. Scene 5 In Peter Wilkes’ parlour, his funeral is in progress. The King and Duke introduce themselves as the long lost kin. Huck is introduced as Robert, their valet. Mary Jane, the eldest niece, hugs her "uncles" and is thrilled that they have arrived. The King and Duke put on an elaborate display of grief. Mary Jane promptly produces the letter left by her deceased uncle. Shedding crocodile tears, the King reads the document, which reveals that $3000 and his house will be left to the daughters of his brother George. For his other two brothers, $3000 and the remainder of his properties. The $6000 is hidden behind a loose stone in the root cellar. As Mary Jane leads the mourners in one last prayer, the King and the Duke retrieve the money. In private, they hatch a scheme whereby they will appear to hand all $6000 over to the girls, but then steal it back later. They hurry back to the parlour and make an elaborate presentation to Mary Jane and her sisters. Dr. Robinson, Peter Wilkes’ physician, enters, and immediately accuses the men of fraud. Mary Jane refuses to believe the doctor, and in a show of support for her "uncles," hands the sack of money back to the King and instructs him to invest it on behalf of her and her sisters. Dr. Robinson warns that they will regret this day. The mourners sing one last song in honour of the deceased. ACT 2 Scene 1 Huck sits with the three Wilkes girls at the kitchen table. Joanna quizzes "Robert" on his life in England, and Huck very nearly gets caught in his own web of lies. Mary Jane admonishes her sister for not treating "Robert" as the guest that he is. Scene 2 Huck is smitten with Mary Jane, and muses to himself that it’s quite a predicament being tied up with "two such snakes in the grass." Huck spots someone coming and ducks, unknowingly, into a closet in the King and Duke’s room. The scoundrels enter and discuss the details of their plan to swindle the girls out of all their money. They exit. Huck emerges from the closet, furious. He vows to reveal the King and Duke for the rats that they are. Scene 3 Huck and Mary Jane are in her room. She is distraught over the prospect of the servants being sold and their
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