The Castle of Andalusia Part 15

_Ped._ Pedrillo!

_Don Fer._ Sir?

_Ped._ Perfume my handkerchief.

_Don Fer._ Yes, sir.

[_Going._

_Ped._ Pedrillo!

_Don Fer._ Sir?

_Ped._ Get me a toothpick.

_Don Fer._ Yes, sir.

[_Going._

_Ped._ Pedrillo!

_Don Fer._ [_Aside._] What an impudent dog!--Sir?

_Ped._ Nothing--Abscond.

_Don Fer._ [_Aside._] If this be my picture, I blush for the original.

_Ped._ Master, to be like you, do let me give you one kick.

[_Aside to FERNANDO._

_Don Fer._ What!

_Ped._ Why, I won't hurt you much.

_Don Fer._ I'll break your bones, you villain.

_Ped._ Ahem! Tol de rol.

_Don Scipio._ Pedrillo!

_Ped._ Sir?

[_Forgetting himself._

_Don Fer._ [_Apart._] What are you at, you rascal?

_Ped._ Ay, what are you at, you rascal? avoid!

_Don Fer._ I'm gone, sir.

[_Exit._

_Ped._ Cursed ill-natured of him, not to let me give him one kick.

[_Aside._

_Don Scipio._ Don Fernando, I like you vastly.

_Ped._ So you ought--Tol de rol.--Who could now suspect me to be the son of a tailor, and that, four hours ago, I was a footman! [_Aside._]

Tol de rol.

_Don Scipio._ Son-in-law, you're a flaming beau!--Egad, you have a princely person.

_Ped._ All the young girls--whenever I got behind--Inside of a coach,--All the ladies of distinction, whether they were making their beds, or dressing the--dressing themselves at the toilet, would run to the windows,--peep through their fingers, their fans I mean, simper behind their handkerchiefs, and lisp out in the softest, sweetest tones, "Oh, dear me, upon my honour and reputation, there is not such a beautiful gentleman in the world, as this same Don Pedrill--Fernando."

_Don Scipio._ Ha! ha! ha! can't forget Pedrillo.--But come, ha' done with your Pedrillos now--be yourself, son-in-law.

_Ped._ Yes, I will be yourself, son-in-law, you are sure of that honour, Don Scipio; but pray, what fortune am I to have with your daughter? You are a grey-headed old fellow, Don Scipio, and by the course of nature, you know, you cannot live long.

_Don Scipio._ Pardon me, sir, I don't know any such thing.

_Ped._ So when we put a stone upon your head----

_Don Scipio._ Put a stone upon my head!

_Ped._ Yes, when you are settled--screwed down, I shall have your daughter to maintain, you know.

_Don Scipio._ [_Aside._] A narrow-minded spark!

_Ped._ Not that I would think much of that, I am so generous.

_Don Scipio._ Yes, generous as a Dutch usurer!

[_Aside._

_Ped._ The truth is Don Scipio, I was always a smart young gentleman.

[_Dances and sings._

_Don Scipio._ A hey! Since Don Fernando turns out to be such a c.o.xcomb, 'faith, I'm not sorry that my own child, has escaped him:--A convent itself is better than a marriage with a monkey.--The poor thing's fortune though!--And then my son--I begin now to think I was too hard upon Caesar--to compare him with this puppy--but I must forget my children, Dame Isabel will have me upon no other terms.

[_Aside._

_Ped._ D'ye hear, Don Scipio, let us have a plentiful feast.

_Don Scipio._ Was ever such a conceited, empty, impudent----