_Lads and lasses, this is your gain,
This is your gain._
(Towards the end of the song the face and shoulders of the TALKER
appear at the open lattice window on the left. He listens with a
bland and happy smile until the song is finished.)
TALKER. Brava! Brava! (They turn round towards the window in
astonishment.) A vastly pleasing song, vastly well sung.
Mademoiselle Nightingale, permit me to felicitate you. (Turning to
the Mother) The Mother of the Nightingale also. Mon Dieu, what is
voice, of a richness, of a purity! To live with it always! Madame,
I felicitate you again.
MOTHER. I must ask you, sir, to explain the meaning of this
intrusion.
TALKER. Intrusion? Oh, fie! Madame, not intrusion. My feet stand
upon the highway. The road, Madame, is common to all. I can quote
you Rex--What does Rex, cap. 27, para. 198, say? _Via_, says Rex,
meaning the road; _communis_ is common; _omnibus_ to all, meaning
thereby--but perchance I weary you?
DAUGHTER. Mother, who is he?
TALKER. Ah, Mademoiselle Nightingale, you may indeed ask. Who is
he? Is he the Pope of Rome? Nay, he is not the Pope of Rome. Is he
the Cham of Tartary? Nay, he is not the Cham of Tartary, for an he
were the Cham of Tartary--
MOTHER. I beg you, sir, to tell us as shortly as you can who you
are and what you want.
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