HETTY (aside). A positive declaration! (hiding her face in her handkerchief to conceal her laughter—then trying to release her hand). Release my hand!—I beg!—I implore! If Captain Taunton should see us—
SKRUFF (aside). Captain Taunton!—the fellow that old Gritty was talking about!—after Hetty, is he? That’s a sure sign the money lies in this quarter! (Aloud.) Ah, Miss Hetty—these military gents seldom come to any good!—I should strongly advise you to give him up! I should indeed!—if he’s a gentleman, he won’t make any fuss about it!
HETTY. Ah, Mr. Skruff, you don’t know the captain—his very quietest moments are characterized by the most savage ferocity. Tell me (seizing his arm), can you shoot?
SKRUFF. Well, I used to be considered quite a crack shot at the bull’s-eye!
HETTY. At the Wimbledon meeting?
SKRUFF. No! at the end of a barrow—for nuts!
HETTY. That’s nothing! The captain can snuff a candle with a bullet at thirty paces!
SKRUFF. Can he? but doesn’t he find that rather an inconvenient substitute for snuffers?
TAUNT. (heard without at R.). Good-bye, then, for the present.