Lau. You will never be warned of this hand, Benito.

Aur. Oh, it is so soft, as it were made on purpose to take hearts, and handle them without hurting!  These taper fingers too, and even joints so supple, that methinks I mould them as they pass through mine:  nay, in my conscience, though it be nonsense to say it, your hand feels white too.

Lau. Methinks yours is not very hard, for a serving-man’s.  But where, in the name of wonder, have you learned to talk so courtly?  You are a strange valet de chambre.

Aur. And you are as strange a waiting-woman:  You have so stabbed me with your repartees to-night, that I should be glad to change the weapon, to be revenged on you.

Lau. These, I suppose, are fragments, which you learned from your wild master, Aurelian:  many a poor woman has passed through his hands with these very words.  You treat me just like a serving-man, with the cold meat which comes from your master’s table.

Aur. You could never have suspected me for using my master’s wit, if you had not been guilty of purloining from your lady.  I am told, that Laura, your mistress’s sister, has wit enough to confound a hundred Aurelians.

Lau. I shall do your commendations to Laura for your compliment.

Aur. And I shall not fair to revenge myself, by informing Aurelian of yours.

  Enter BENITO with a Guitar.

Ben. The poor souls shall not lose by the bargain, though my foolish gadding masters have disappointed them.  That ladder of ropes was doubtless left there by the young lady in hope of them.

Vio. Hark, I hear a noise in the garden.

Lau. I fear we are betrayed.

Cam. Fear nothing, madam, but stand close.

Ben. Now, Benito, is the time to hold forth thy talent, and to set up for thyself.  Yes, ladies, you shall be serenaded, and when I have displayed my gifts, I’ll retire in triumph over the wall, and hug myself for the adventure. [He fums on the Guitar.

Vio. Let us make haste, sister, and get into covert; this music will raise the house upon us immediately.

Lau. Alas, we cannot; the damn’d musician stands just in the door where we should pass.

Ben. singing.
    Eveillez vous, belles endormies;
    Eveillez vous:  car il est jour: 
  Mettez la tete a la fenestre,
  Vous entendrez parler d’amour.

Aur. [aside to CAM.] Camillo, this is my incorrigible rogue; and I dare not call him, Benito, for fear of discovering myself not to be Benito.

Cam. The alarm is already given through the house.  Ladies, you must be quick:  Secure yourselves and leave us to shift. [Exeunt Women.

Within. This way, this way.

Aur. I hear them coming; and, as ill luck will have it, just by that quarter where our ladder is placed.