_Poss._ Point over yonder chimney. Directly south.
_Naut._ Thitherward, begging your pardon, Dr. Possum, I affirm to be the north.
_Naut._ North. Alas! what an ignorant thing is vanity! I was just making a reflection on the ignorance of my brother Possum, in the nature of the crocodile.
_Poss._ First, brother Nautilus, convince yourself of the composition of the mummy.
_Naut._ I will insure your alligator from any damage. His skin I affirm once more to be impenetrable.
_Poss._ I will not deface any hieroglyphick.
_Foss._ I never oppose a luciferous experiment. It is the beaten highway to truth.
[_Plotwell and Underplot leap from their places; the doctors are frighted._]
_Foss._ Speak, I conjure thee. Art thou the ghost of some murder'd Egyptian monarch?
_Naut._ A rational question to a mummy! But this monster can be no less than the devil himself, for crocodiles don't walk.
_Foss._ Gentlemen, wonder at nothing within these walls; for ever since I was married, nothing has happen'd to me in the common course of human life.
_Clink._ Madam, without a compliment, you have a fine imagination. The masquerade of the mummy and crocodile is extremely just; I would not rob you of the merit of the invention, yet since you make me the compliment, I shall be proud to take the whole contrivance of this masquerade upon myself. [_To Townley._] Sir, be acquainted with my masqueraders.
_Foss._ Thou female imp of Appollo, more mischievous than Circe, who fed gentlemen of the army in a hog's-stye! What mean you by these gambols? this mummy, this crocodile?
_Fos._ What an outragious conceit is this! had you contented yourself with the metamorphosis of Jupiter, our skill in the classicks might have prevented our terror.
_Clink._ I glory in the fertility of my invention the more, that it is beyond the imagination of a pagan deity. Besides, it is form'd upon the vraysemblance; for I know you had a mummy and a crocodile to be brought home.
_Fos._ Dr. Nautilus is an infirm tender gentleman; I wish the sudden concussion of his animal spirits may not kindle him into a fever. I myself, I must confess, have an extreme palpitation.
_Clink._ Dear uncle, be pacified. We are both of us the votaries of our great master Appollo. To you he has assign'd the art of healing: Me he has taught to sing; why then should we jangle in our kindred faculties?