“Ahem!” said the lady, in a tone that didn't sound exactly like concurrence.
“Eat a few dates, and then repose,” said the deep voice.
“I wish I had them, av they were eatable,” said Saladin, as he turned away.
“Wretch, you have forgotten to salaam; exit slowly. Tink, tink, a-tink-a-tink! Anna Maria, he's devilish good now for black parts; I think I'll make Jones bring him out. Wouldn't it be original to make Othello talk broken English? 'Farewell de camp!' Eh, by Jove! that 's a fine thought. 'De spirit stir a drum, de piercy pipe.' By Jove! I like that notion.”
Here the gentleman rose in a glorious burst of enthusiasm, and began repeating snatches from Shakspeare, in the pleasant travesty he had hit upon.
“Cradock revoked, and you never saw him,” said the lady, dryly, interrupting the monologue.
“I did see it clearly enough, but I had done so twice the same game,” said he, gayly; “and if the grave were to give up its dead, I, too, should be a murderer. Fine thought that, is n't it?”
“He won seventeen and sixpence from you,” rejoined she, pettishly.
“Two bad half-crowns,—dowlas, filthy dowlas,” was the answer.
“And the hopeful young gentleman in the next room,—what profitable intentions, may I ask you, have you with respect to him?”