_Spado._ Dear sir, she can't do without me at this time. [_Exit_ SCIPIO.]

I come.

[_Going._

_Don Caesar._ No, you stay.--

[_Pulls him back._

_Spado._ Ah, my dear captain. [_Affecting surprise and joy._] What, and my little Sanguino too! Who could have thought of your finding me out here?

_Don Caesar._ Yes, you are found out.

[_Significantly._

_Spado._ Such discoveries as I have made in the castle!--

_Don Caesar._ You're to make discoveries in the forest too.

_Sang._ Our cave!

_Spado._ Oh, you overheard that! Didn't I hum the old fellow finely?

Ha! ha! ha!

_Sang._ And for your reward, traitor, take this to your heart.

[_Offers to stab him._

_Don Caesar._ Hold, Sanguino.

_Spado._ Nay, my dear Sanguino, stay! What the devil--So here I can't run a jest upon a silly old man, but I must be run through with a stilletto!

_Don Caesar._ Come, Spado, confess what really brought you here.

_Spado._ Business, my dear sir, business; all in our own way too, for I designed to let every man of you into the castle this very night, when all the family are in bed, and plunder's the word--Oh, such a delicious booty! pyramids of plate, bags of gold, and little chests of diamonds!

_Sang._ Indeed!

_Spado._ Sanguino, look at the closet.

_Sang._ Well!

_Spado._ A glorious prize!

_Sang._ Indeed!

_Spado._ Six chests of ma.s.sy plate! Look, only look into the closet; wait here a moment, and I'll fetch a master key that shall open every one of them.

_Don Caesar._ Hey! Let's see those chests.

_Sang._ Ma.s.sy plate! Quick, quick, the master key.

_Spado._ I'll fetch it.

_Sang._ Do but make haste, Spado.

_Spado._ I will, my dear boy.

[_Exeunt SANGUINO and DON CaeSAR._

My good--honest--Oh, you two thieves!

[_Aside._

_Enter_ DON SCIPIO.

_Don Scipio._ Now, Spado, I--hey, where is my little dreamer? but why is this door open? this closet contains many valuables--Why will they leave it open? Let's see--

[_Goes into the Closet._

_Enter SPADO with a Portmanteau._

_Spado._ [_As entering._] I have no key--However, I have stolen Don Fernando's portmanteau as a peace-offering for these two rascals! Are you there? What a pity the coming of my fellow-rogues! I should have had the whole castle to myself--Oh, what a charming seat of work for a man of my industry--[_Speaking at Closet Door._] You find the chests there--you may convey them out at night, and as for cutting Don Scipio's throat--that I leave to--

_Enter DON SCIPIO._

_Don Scipio._ Cut my throat!--What, are you at your dreams again?

_Spado._ [_Aside._] Oh, zounds!--Yes, sir, as I was telling you.

_Don Scipio._ Of a little fellow you have the worst dreams I ever heard.

_Spado._ Shocking, sir--then I thought--

_Don Scipio._ Hold, hold, let me hear no more of your curst dreams.

_Spado._ I've got off, thanks to his credulity.

[_Aside._

_Don Scipio._ What portmanteau's that?

_Spado._ 'Sdeath, I'm on again!

[_Aside._

_Don Scipio._ Fernando's, I think.

_Spado._ [_Affecting surprise._] What, my master's?--'egad so it is--But I wonder who could have brought it here.--Ay, ay, my fellow servant Pedrillo is now too grand to mind his business;--and my master, I find, though he has taken the habit, scorns the office of a servant--So I must look after the things myself.