MAD. Yes, I think that oh! oh! admirable.
MASC. It seems a mere nothing.
CAT. Good Heavens! How can you say so? It is one of these things that are perfectly invaluable.
MAD. No doubt on it; I would rather have written that oh! oh! than an epic poem.
MASC. Egad, you have good taste.
MAD. Tolerably; none of the worst, I believe.
MASC. But do you not also admire quite without heed was I? quite without heed was I, that is, I did not pay attention to anything; a natural way of speaking, quite without heed was I, of no harm thinking, that is, as I was going along, innocently, without malice, like a poor sheep, you I chanced to spy, that is to say, I amused myself with looking at you, with observing you, with contemplating you. Slily your eyes. … What do you think of that word slily—is it not well chosen?
CAT. Extremely so.
MASC. Slily, stealthily; just like a cat watching a mouse—slily.
MAD. Nothing can be better.