Eliph. (after pause). Why, the man is mad! Singing and footsteps! What next? Here, you lad, Did you hear aught now?
Dav. (frightened). Sir, what did you say?
Eliph. (banging table impatiently). Did you hear aught just now? From far away A sound of singing?
Dav. Why, sir, yes—all day— And now again! [Silence. They eye one another uneasily.
Nad. (to Tob.). Bah! Here, a cup of wine Will clear your hearing. I dare wager mine ’S as good as yours. Some drunken fellow there Is noisy in his cups. [Holds out cup of wine to Tob., who takes it hesitatingly.
Tob. (after pause). Well, sir, I swear I never heard nor drunk nor sober sing As fair as this I heard. (Drinks.)
Eliph. (easily). Why, anything May maze a man on such a night, when snow And cold conspire to starve the senses. Go And see your other guests. Perhaps.... Maybe You’ll find them singing. [Tob. begins to go out (L.) slowly. Aye, come back to me, [Exit Tob. (L.) with Dav. whispering to him. And we three’ll join them. (To other two.) Did you ever hear Such madness?
Uzz. Bah! Why, all the world is mad Save such as you and I. As for that lad, I swear he spoke so just to please the man.
Nad. But to come back to where we first began—
[Air of “A Virgin” sung by Choir with closed lips; it continues very faintly down to where Eliph. opens the door.