You. It is not quite clear! I say 'tis clear as mud or amber. Iago has with such hellish haste conceived and executed his machinations, that Cassio has been cashiered some few hours after landing in Cyprus. In the pride of success, he urges on Cassio to apply without delay to Desdemona in the morning. We see the demi-devil determined to destroy--"By the mass, 'tis morning--pleasure and action make the hours seem short." Iago may have gone to bed for a few hours--Cassio had not--"You have not been a-bed, then."--"Why, no; the day had broke before we parted." The Time of the end of Second Act, and of the beginning of Third Act, are thus connected as firmly as words and deeds can connect. You say there is nothing improbable in Cassio's having been with Iago till daybreak on some subsequent night! Why, who the devil cares to know that Cassio had not been to bed on some other night? His not having been to bed on _this_ night is an indication of _his_ anxiety, and Iago's question is a manifestation of _his_ malevolence cloaked with an appearance of concern. In each case an appropriate trait of character is brought before us; but the main purpose of the words is to fix the time, which they do without the possibility of a doubt. They _demonstrate_ that the Third Act opens on the morning immediately subsequent to the night on which Act Second closes. This morning dovetails into that night with an exactness which nothing could improve. TALBOYS. Why so fierce, my good sir? NORTH. Fierce! I may well be fierce. What! Cassio's desire to see Desdemona cool before morning--Iago's desire to drive him on to his destruction cool too--and both walk away without further heed--and when next seen, after an interval of some weeks or months, talking about not having been in bed during some other night on which nothing particular has happened! Bah! TALBOYS. Sir, I do not like to see you so much excited. You mistake me--I was merely, at your bidding, assisting you in your expiscation of the Time--we are at one about it-- NORTH. My dear Talboys, forgive me--my irascibility is a disease-- TALBOYS. Health--health--exuberant health of mind and body--May you live a thousand years. NORTH. The Third Act, then, you allow, opens on the morning of the day following the night on which the Second Act closes? TALBOYS. I not only allow, my dear Sir, I insist on it. Let me hear any man deny it, and I will knock the breath out of his body! Proceed, Sir. NORTH. Obstinate? I never called you obstinate, my dear Talboys. Well--let me proceed, with you for an ally. In this same scene, First of Act Third, Cassio says to Emilia, "Yet, I beseech you, If you think fit, or that it may be done, Give me advantage of some brief discourse With Desdemona alone." And Emilia says to him,