DANGLE. One of the finest discovery-scenes I ever saw!—Why, this under-plot would have made a tragedy itself. SNEER. Ay! or a comedy either. PUFF. And keeps quite clear you see of the other. _Enter_ SCENEMEN, _taking away the seats_. PUFF. The scene remains, does it? SCENEMAN. Yes, sir. PUFF. You are to leave one chair, you know.—But it is always awkward in a tragedy, to have your fellows coming in in your play-house liveries to remove things.—I wish that could be managed better.—So now for my mysterious yeoman. _Enter_ BEEFEATER. BEEFEATER. Perdition catch my soul, but I do love thee. SNEER. Haven’t I heard that line before? PUFF. No, I fancy not.—Where, pray? DANGLE. Yes, I think there is something like it in Othello. PUFF. Gad! now you put me in mind on’t, I believe there is—but that’s of no consequence; all that can be said is, that two people happened to hit upon the same thought—and Shakspeare made use of it first, that’s all. SNEER. Very true. PUFF. Now, sir, your soliloquy—but speak more to the pit, if you please—the soliloquy always to the pit, that’s a rule. BEEFEATER. Though hopeless love finds comfort in despair, It never can endure a rival’s bliss! But soft—I am observed. [_Exit_.] DANGLE. That’s a very short soliloquy. PUFF. Yes—but it would have been a great deal longer if he had not been observed. SNEER. A most sentimental Beefeater that, Mr. Puff! PUFF. Hark’ee—I would not have you be too sure that he is a Beefeater. SNEER. What, a hero in disguise? PUFF. No matter—I only give you a hint. But now for my principal character. Here he comes—Lord Burleigh in person! Pray, gentlemen, step this way—softly—I only hope the Lord High Treasurer is perfect—if he is but perfect! _Enter_ LORD BURLEIGH, _goes slowly to a chair, and sits._ SNEER. Mr. Puff! PUFF. Hush!—Vastly well, sir! vastly well! a most interesting gravity. DANGLE. What, isn’t he to speak at all? PUFF. Egad, I thought you’d ask me that!—Yes, it is a very likely thing—that a minister in his situation, with the whole affairs of the nation on his head, should have time to talk!—But hush! or you’ll put him out. SNEER. Put him out; how the plague can that be, if he’s not going to say anything? PUFF. There’s the reason! why, his part is to think; and how the plague do you imagine he can think if you keep talking? DANGLE. That’s very true, upon my word! LORD BURLEIGH _comes forward, shakes his head, and exit_. SNEER. He is very perfect indeed! Now, pray what did he mean by that? PUFF. You don’t take it? SNEER. No, I don’t, upon my soul. PUFF. Why, by that shake of the head, he gave you to understand that even though they had more justice in their cause, and wisdom in their measures—yet, if there was not a greater spirit shown on the part of the people, the country would at last fall a sacrifice to the hostile ambition of the Spanish monarchy. SNEER. The devil! did he mean all that by shaking his head?