University of Virginia Library

III. PART III.

Scene, the Park. Time, Ten Minutes later. Speaker, Maurice. Hearer, Dick.
O, why have you waited? Don't speak to me, Dick!
Don't speak to me yet! Here's another vile trick!
That noise in the bushes—why, what should it be
Except that—that woman! And so, there were we
Parading, like dolts, in the lane, to and fro,
And telling her just what she wanted to know!
And chuckling, moreover: the thing seemed so pat!
Imagine her nice counter-chuckling at that!
I heard her, I tell you, again and again,
Though Gray would not have it. I heard her quite plain,
And might have confronted her there on the spot:
I'd rather have brought down the paling than not!
I gave into Gray with that stupid submission
Through shame, I believe, for the very suspicion!
And so, we talk on, and the spy wins the day!
I had one resource, and I've thrown it away!