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 [The voice comes nearer and nearer; the singing ceases. Cromwell.Bah! it is one of my four fools who sings— Elespuru, I think.

2.—.

[The Jesters, led by , enter cautiously, feeling their way. Elespuru [humming.

Giraff [to , in an undertone. Elespuru, in heaven's name, be still! Art mad? Gramadoch [to the others, pointing to a grassy bank, behind a hedge. Here let us all conceal ourselves. Cromwell [not seeing them. Ay, 'tis my fool returning to the palace.
 * [The four Jesters lie down on the bank.

Gramadoch [in an undertone. The plot doth centre now upon this spot. From here we shall see all. Trick [in an undertone.] Faith! we should have A clerk's eye. See, quoth he! Upon my word, In Satan's oven it is far less dark! Elespuru [in an undertone. Whoe'er the actors be, if they should find Our charming faces here, they'd make us pay Right roundly for our seats.