Mrs. Todd re-appears at door, L. 3. E.
Todd. (sits R. of table) Ah! I’ve the appetite of a Board of Aldermen! (Marietta helps him to some of the stew) And this stew is really so tempting! I’ll make no apology. (eats greedily) Never tasted anything so savory. Game—eh? Delicious! How d’ye make it? Infinitely superior to my lost Laura’s giblet pie! What a flavour! Ah! this is happiness! I’ll take another spoonful, if you please. Hah! I begin to feel I’m a lonely cockle on life’s dull shore.
(while he eats with his head bent over his plate, Jacopo, who has come into the apartment, R., motions Marietta away; she crosses quietly at back to R. and exits, R. 2 E. Jacopo then takes her place L. of table. Mrs. Todd retires as Jacopo appears)
Todd. (still eating, not perceiving Jacopo) Hah! I never thought to love again—you put tomatoes in your stew?—but from the moment I beheld these lovely features, the image of my lost Laura has been growing fainter and fainter in my bosom—like a faded daguerreotype—mushrooms, I perceive—and when I gaze on that beauteous face—(he lifts his eyes, and seeing Jacopo looking sternly at him, he remains transfixed with terror, holding in the air the spoon he was conveying to his mouth)
Jacopo. (after a pause) Proceed with your compliment, signor.
Todd. I—I—I—beg pardon—the—the—Collector, I presume.
Jacopo. (brusquely) The master of this house.
Todd. Oh! indeed! (aside) Todd, you are a dead mackarel!
Jaco. You tremble.
Todd. Oh, dear no, not at all. Ha, ha, ha! Merely a slight shiver—the evening’s rather cool.