_F._ Not a word. Obey me. 900 _T._ Heaven help us! what is this for? _F._ Silence. Are they off? _T._ They are coming. _F._ Hark now what you have to do. Cross the grass silently, unlock my door, creep upstairs like a thief, and sit in my chamber without a movement till I come. _T._ The grass is like a sponge. I have begun to catch cold already: I am just going to sneeze. _F._ Sneeze, and I’ll strangle you. 910 _T._ Is this your treatment for all my services? _F._ Your service is your duty to obey: And once you served me well: of late you are grown Questionous and prying; which I have so far borne, Because I have been in doubt whether it were best To thrash you or discharge you. _T._ And no wonder neither. Thus the world will repay devotion. Can I see you so blind to your good fortune, and when heaven’s door stands open.... _F._ Heaven’s door! what is this? 920 _T._ You do not know. _F._ Say what you mean. _T._ This court, wherein you serve and get no thanks, You might rule and be thanked. _F._ Just as I thought; Ere I dismiss you I shall tell the Countess Your insolence. The whipping you will get Will save me trouble. _T._ I pray you on my knees. _F._ Get up, fool, lest you sneeze. And would you escape Your rich deservings, be off. 929 _T._ Betray me not, sir: I will obey you better. _F._ Silence: go do as I bid you. Begone, and take your boots. [_Exit T._ So my man knows her secret. ’Tis high time That Laura and I were off. This salves my conscience From any scruple. ’Tis a rule of art To make obstructions serve: and my chief hindrance, Diana’s passion, can but urge me on. So the mischance, which drew me hence to-night, Hath brought me hither a more secret way. The night is still. I would there were a wind. And there’s the clock. (_Clock strikes._) I’ll wait Till it hath sounded.... No light.... I’ll tap. 941 (_Goes to window and taps. Laura comes to window and opens._) _F._ All’s well. ’Tis I. _LAURA._ Frederick, not gone to Milan? _F._ I escaped but with a thousand torments— May I come in? _L._ We can talk here. _F._ The night Is very still, our voices will be heard: They run along the wall. _L._ Then I’ll come out. _F._ We shall be seen. _L._ The maids are all abed. There’s none to see us; and the moon is clouded. We’ll walk by the yew hedge. Give me your hand. _F._ ’Tis but one step. _L._ I know. (_Comes down._) _F._ My kiss. (_Kisses her._) _L._ O Frederick, 950 You have broken your own rule, and kissed me thrice. _F._ One kiss a day, with two days in arrear, Makes three.