[Enter Richard. Mistress Merton seizes his arm nervously.]

MISTRESS MERTON [Aside.] Well?

RICHARD Gold will not buy her. She defies us.

SIR CHARLES [To Captain Bugby.] This gentleman’s playing is rather ventriloquistical.

CAPTAIN BUGBY Quite, as it were.

REV. MASTER TODD This smells unholy.

REV. MASTER RAND [To Todd.] Shall we leave?

JUSTICE MERTON [Sternly to Richard, who has attempted to talk with him aside.] Not now.

RICHARD Pardon me—it must be now.

JUSTICE MERTON Squire Talbot—