Ministers. Hush!—shame!—shame!
King Bilbonzo. Decency! decency!
Don Torribio. I assure you they are very decent well-behaved little beasts, O King. They have never bitten you in your absence! They are the most honest of your subjects. They have never taken anything from you without informing you of the fact. There are not many like that. And they are not at present suffering from hunger. Not many like that either.
King Bilbonzo. Silence, now! Do you know wherefore you have been summoned hither?
Don Torribio. Certainly. We are going to act a little play together. You are Nebuchadnezzar, and I am Daniel.
King Bilbonzo (to Palaemon). I see your Excellency has already enlightened him.
Palaemon. Certainly not, your Majesty.
King Bilbonzo. Ah! this is indeed surprising. Listen then, and I will tell you my dream.
Don Torribio. No, no—you need not let me off any of my part. I mean to play Daniel entire—but I am not going to let you off the grass-eating, either! Do you listen to me, and I will interpret the dream.
King Bilbonzo. Well—this is astonishing!