Thames.It made me pale and ail.
When nearly coopered I descried a sail;
They did not hear me, though I loudly whooped;
Within the barrel I was inned and cooped.
All's up, I thought, when round they quickly brought her;
That ship to me of safety was the porter.
"Little Jack Sheppard"—which had for its chief exponents Miss Farren, Mr. Fred Leslie (a brilliant recruit from the comic opera stage), Mr. David James (who had returned for a time to his old love), Mr. Odell, Miss Harriet Coveney, and Miss Marion Hood (who had graduated in Gilbert-Sullivan opera)—was followed at the Gaiety by "Monte Cristo Junior," in which Messrs. "Richard Henry" presented a bright and vivacious travestie of Dumas' famous fiction, greatly aided by the chic of Miss Farren as the hero, and the inexhaustible humorous resource of Mr. Leslie as Noirtier. Here, for example, is a bit of the scene between these two characters in the Château d'If:—
(Noirtier, disguised as Faria, pokes his head through the hole in the
prison wall. He wears a long grey beard, and is clad in rags.)
Dantès (startled). This is the rummiest go I e'er heard tell on!
Noirtier. Pray pardon my intrusion, brother felon—
I'm Seventy-Seven.
Dantès.You look it—and the rest!
Noirtier (with senile chuckle). Ah! youth will always have its little jest.
My number's Seventy-seven: my age is more!
In point of fact, I've lately turned five score:
Time travels on with step that's swift, though stealthy.
Dantès (aside). A hundred years of age! This prison's healthy,
To judge by this old joker. (aloud) What's your name, sir?
To which I'd add—and what's your little game, sir?
Noirtier. My name is Faria—I'm a ruined Abbé—
All through my country's conduct, which was shabby.
They've kept me here since I was three years old,
Because I wouldn't tell of untold gold—
Of countless coin and gems and heaps of treasure
Which I'd discovered in my baby leisure—
(chuckles) But we will foil their schemes, and that ere long.