[Exit, R.
Eben. He’s gone. I breathe again. O, Lord, what’s that? (Loopstitch in the white robe passes slowly across stage, from R. to L., with his arm outstretched, hand pointing straight before him. Exit, L.) An apparition! What infernal place have I got into? I’ll go home at once. (Goes to R. The door is locked. Loopstitch, without the robe, creeps in, L., and gets behind lounge.)
Loop. Sacre! I vill give him a touch of my needles!
Eben. What an old donkey I am, to get into such a scrape! What shall I do? I can’t get out. Suppose I alarm the neighborhood! That won’t do; I should have the whole set upon me. I’ll try to sleep. (Lies upon lounge. Loopstitch leans over and runs a needle into his arm.) O, murder! What’s that? Confound this infernal place! (Loopstitch sticks another needle.) O, my arm, my arm! (Jumps up.) I can’t stand this! Here! Help, help, help, help!
Enter Oakum, R. Creeps in very mysteriously; takes Ebenezer by the wrist, and leads him down to the front of the stage.
Oak. Silence! Sh—!
Eben. O, take me out of this! I’m a poor old man.
Oak. Silence! Sh—! Listen to me. You received a note from somebody—
Eben. Yes, I did. Confound somebody!
Oak. Silence! Sh—! “Tender attachment!” It’s all true, by jiminy!