Scene Third of Act III., accordingly, shows us Desdemona, Cassio, and Emilia before the Castle--and while Cassio is "soliciting his wife"--"enter Othello and Iago at a distance." "_Emilia._ Madam, here comes My Lord. _Cassio._ Madam, I'll take my leave. _Desdemona._ Why stay, And hear me speak. _Cassio._ Madam, _not now; I am very ill at ease_-- Unfit for mine own purposes. _Desdemona._ Well--well-- Do your discretion. [_Exit_ CASSIO." Down to this exit of Cassio, we are on the morning or forenoon of the Second Day at Cyprus. Every word said proves we are. Cassio's parting words prove it. "Madam, _not now_--I'm very ill at ease--unfit for my own purposes." He had been up all night--had been drunk--cashiered. He sees Othello coming--his heart sinks--and he retreats in shame and fear--"unfit for his own purposes." TALBOYS. Eh? NORTH. In Scene First of Act III., Emilia tells Cassio that she will do a particular thing--do it of course--_quam primum_--as a thing that requires no delay, and demands haste--and in Scene III. she appears having done it. In Scene First she tells Cassio that she will bring him to speak with Desdemona about his replacement--and in Scene Third, before the Castle, we find that she has done this. The opportunity came immediately--it was made to her hand--all that was necessary was that Othello should not be present--and he was not present. He had gone out on business. Now was just the nick of time for Cassio to bespeak Desdemona's intercession, and now was just the nick of time on which that intercession was by him bespoken. Nothing could be more nicely critical or opportune. TALBOYS. Between us, sir, we have tied down Scene III. of Act Third to the Forenoon of the Second Day at Cyprus. NORTH. We have tied down Shakspeare thus far to SHORT TIME AT CYPRUS--and to Short Time we shall tie him down till the Catastrophe. OTHELLO MURDERED DESDEMONA THAT VERY NIGHT. TALBOYS. No--no--no. Impossible. NORTH. Inevitably--and of a dead certainty. TALBOYS. How--how, sir? NORTH. Why will an Eagle be an Owl? TALBOYS. A compliment and a banter-- NORTH. Why, you Owl! we have just seen Cassio slink away--all is plain sailing now--Talboys--for Iago by four words seals her doom. "_Ha! I like not that!_ _Othello._ What dost thou say? _Iago._ Nothing, my lord: or if--I know not what. _Othello._ Was not that Cassio parted from my wife? _Iago._ Cassio, my Lord? No, sure; I cannot think it, That he would steal away so _guilty-like Seeing you coming_." Mark what follows--there is not a moment of intermission in the Action down to end of this Scene Third of Act Third, which you well call the Scene of Scenes, by which time Othello has been convinced of Desdemona's guilt, and has resolved on her Death and Cassio's. TALBOYS.