_D._ Now you teach me. 1250 You might have known him long to hit him so. Have you talked with him much? _R._ Enough to prove him A most ingenious gentleman. _D._ Ah!—ingenious! Ingenious;—that is a doubtful word. You do not mean contriving? _Enter F. and T. in their travelling costume as before._ _R._ See, madam: ’tis he that comes. (_Aside._) Her love is but a fancy; else would she never Provoke discussion on him, and seek to praise him.— _D._ Frederick: returned so soon!—miraculous. Such expedition. Thou canst scarce have rested. ’Tis two hours ere thy time. _FREDERICK._ ’Twas my good fortune 1260 To meet no hindrance. _D._ But thy health, good servant; Thy sickness? _F._ Madam, let my quick despatch Bury my late reluctance. I confess I was unreasonable. Indeed, the journey Hath quite restored my spirits. _D._ Yes, so it seems. I hoped that it might be so. Hast thou my answer? _F._ ’Tis here. (_Handing letter._) _D._ Thou must have roused the Duke from sleep. _F._ ’Twas such an hour as one might look to find A duke a-bed. _D._ And he was not? Pray, tell us Exactly how he was employed. _F._ I chanced 1270 To find him banqueting in merry company; Such as make war on night, and march their force Across the frontier, for a long campaign In the enemy’s country. _D._ (_to R._). Banqueting, you hear. And at that hour. _F._ All night they kept it up. _D._ (_to R._). Hark you. _R._ I hear and wonder. (_To F._) Say you, sir, The Duke was merry, that he held a feast Within the palace? _F._ (_aside_). Heavens!—how I have blundered! Nay, sir, I said not so: I said expressly, Or should have said, he was another’s guest. 1280 _R._ And yet I have never known him.... _F._ Indeed ’tis true: He said to me himself those very words. I have never known myself do this, he said. _TRISTRAM_ (_aside_). Now, they are at their fooling again, and not a single word of any sense. ’Tis enough to drive a man mad with bewilderment. _R._ (_to D._). To plunge into distraction so unwonted Argues despair. Grave men use dissipation To drown their misery. _D._ No doubt: and yet Answer not for him. _F._ True it is, my lady, He did confess as much to me a stranger. 1290 Despair;—that was his word. He seemed, withal, Wondrously put out at all I chanced to say: And very sick he looked. _T._ (_aside_). Madness and lies! I’ll hear no more of this. (_Goes aside to Flora._) _D._ It seems that dissipation Agrees not with grave men. _R._ Heaven smite me dead If I protest not ’gainst the wrong you do him.