FANNY. (_screams._) Oh!
EUCLID. Don't scream--don't scream! We shall be hanged if you scream.
FANNY. Oh, dear! oh, dear, oh, dear! Let me look; m-a-s, mas--t-e-r,
ter--master. It's right--oh, dear! oh, dear! (_sobs._) we're in a
pickle!
EUCLID. Yes, and so is our unfortunate victim. Then you did not know
it?
FANNY. No; you know I cannot read without help. I determined to throw
that wretch's presents out of the window. I was only thinking of the
present.
EUCLID. Ay, but I'm thinking of the future; I did you wrong. I see you
are innocent. We are both a couple of innocent--guilty, miserable
wretches. Why didn't you throw it in yourself? We'll finish this
letter though.
(_they stand close together, reading a letter._
_Enter RECKLESS, R._
RECK. (_aside._) I can't find Julia anywhere; and I dread every minute
lest I should meet some cursed person or other who might be more
curious than pleasant. Who's that? Bless my lucky stars! my old
friend Facile. I can't be mistaken. (_slaps on back._) Facile, my boy!
EUCLID. (_aside._) That's the constable. No, sir, not here; it came
from the window next door. What, Reckless! Ah, how do you do?
(_aside._) Where the deuce did he come from?
RECK. I won't say a word about the basket; I'll feign I called to see
him. How do you do, my boy? We have not seen one another these--
EUCLID. These four years. So you remember me, and came to call?
RECK. Yes, ahem!
EUCLID. Very kind. But how did you know I lived here?
RECK. Oh, I saw you at the window.
EUCLID. Come, come, we don't occupy the front, and the back of the
house is in the water.
RECK. Ahem! Oh, ah! I was rowing past a quarter of an hour ago.
EUCLID. Ah--h--h! And you saw me at the window, did you? You did not
see me do anything particular, did you?
RECK. No. (_aside._) Good reason, I never saw you at all. No.
EUCLID. Ha! ha! no, of course not. What was there particular for me to
do, eh?
RECK. (_aside._) What a strange manner he has!
FANNY. And I was not standing by him, was I?
RECK. No.
EUCLID. No, to be sure not.
RECK. What the devil does this mean? They seem uneasy about something.
I suppose he has been kissing the girl at the window. Ha! ha! I
understand you.
EUCLID. Eh? do you though?
FANNY. Oh, gemini, oh!
RECK. You are a sly fellow, Euclid. (_whispers._) Eh?
EUCLID. (_aside._) It's all right--no, no, wrong, I assure you. But
you always had such odd ideas--still in the same spirits.
RECK. Yes, I can always smile; like that water which wears a smooth
countenance, whatever is beneath its surface.
EUCLID. (_aside._) Curse his similes!
FANNY. (_aside._) I hates figurative language.
RECK. Gad! what a lumping I had in that basket--I feel quite knocked
up! (_aside._) A little refreshment--Euclid, my old friend, you know I
don't mind taking liberties with you--could you give me a glass of
wine?