JACO. (L.C.) Good!—now observe me. You must receive this man as if I were not present—invite him to supper, and make him sit in that chair. (_pointing to chair_ R. C.; MARIETTA _curtseys submissively_; JACOPO _crosses to_ R.) I shall have my eye upon you. TODD. (_outside balcony_, C.) This is a terrific ascent! (JACOPO _retires into room_, R. 3 E. _and observes what passes through the half-open door_; TODD _is seen slowly coming into view_, _outside the balcony_, C.; _he has a red handkerchief tied round his head_) TODD. Beautiful native! You see I am here again! (_gets in at window_, _and falls_) Excuse me presenting myself in this miscellaneous manner—my appearance may be startling; but, I trust not, repugnant. The fact is, I couldn’t get a wink of sleep in the fowl-house—the cocks and the hens—the turkeys, and other lively insects, disturbed me so, that I forsook my pea-straw and strolled into the garden, where I beheld you at your window, and discovered the ladder you had placed. MRS. TODD _shows herself at door_, L. 3 E. MARI. (R.) Preposterous fool! TODD. (L. C.) In my country, ever since the invention of doors, the practice of entering a house by the window has been confined to thieves, cats, and lovers; (_tenderly_) need I say, it was in the character of the last-named interesting quadruped, I risked my neck in the most perilous performance I ever attempted on the slack-rope. (MRS. TODD _makes a gesture of astonishment_; _up stage_, L.) Sweet Marietta! How I admire that name! It’s much prettier than Laura. What’s your opinion of Samuel? Do you think, in the ardent simplicity of your exalted nature, you could love a Samuel—or a Sam—or a Sammy, for instance? MARI. Never! (_sees_ JACOPO, R. 3 E., _who holds up his finger threateningly_) Hem! I—can’t say—perhaps, after supper. You have not supped? TODD. Not in the wildest dreams of my imagination. MARI. You shall sup with me, then. Sit down there. (_points to chair_ R. _of table_) TODD. With the greatest pleasure. MRS. TODD _retires and closes door_, L. 3 E. MARIETTA _runs out_, R. 2 E. Supper!—and I’m actually going to sup _tête à tête_ with an angel, in this picturesque but dilapidated mansion. What would they say at Brompton if they could see me? Hah! they won’t believe me, though—when I tell them—they’ll say it was an Arabian Night’s entertainment. Ha! ha! ha! Poor fools! that’s the way they always sneer at travellers. (_sniffs_) As if that delicious odour of something uncommonly nice which assails my nostrils could be a dream. _Re-enter_ MARIETTA, R. 2 E., _with a tureen containing stew_. MARI. Here it is. (_places it on table_, _and crosses at back_ to L. _of table_) You ought to have a good appetite. MRS. TODD _re-appears at door_, L. 3. E.