nish grandee, but I fear she
was a fisherman's daughter from Po-Po-Pozzuoli.
My father, on the other hand (_stops short and
looks round_)----

(PANTALONE _makes signs to him_.)

PANTALONE.

Better not.

TARTAGLIA.

Better not! That old scarecrow there makes
out that nobody ever knew who my father was.
He is a... li-li-liar. Excuse me, one moment,
ladies and gentlemen. (_To the_ PRINCE.) That
head up there on the right, which I beg your
Royal Highness graciously to observe, is the head
of the valiant Prince of Hyrcania. A valiant
prince, a sweet prince. But silly, silly. There's
quite a nice open space next to him for you, a
fine, sunny situation with a pleasant prospect.
How would that do, eh? Company to your liking?
All of 'em in the Almanach de Gotha.

PANTALONE.

(_To_ BRIGELLA.) Send the executioner up with
the pole. We'll let this charming young Prince
select his own point of vantage.

BRIGELLA.

(_To the headsman._) What are you hanging
about here for, you hangman, you? Up on the
wall with you, by Hikey Mo! Up on the wall or
I'll wallop you.

PANTALONE.

Halt! 'Sh! Don't forget!

BRIGELLA.

(_Stepping in front of the footlights._) I'm
Brigella, begging your pardon. One of the old
honest family of the Brigellas. As you can hear
by the way I talk, I was born in Ferrara. There
are lying rogues, drat 'em, as say as how you can
tell any one that comes from Ferrara by his
knavish face. Concerning my own person, though
I says it as shouldn't, I've a heart of gold. Not
half. Talking about gold now, you'll be wondering,
sure enough, what brought _me_ from Ferrara
to Pekin. Well, now, it was a purse of gold,
God bless ye! It was a little matter of two
hundred florins that belonged to my employer,
the celebrated Dr. Gratiano...

PANTALONE.

(_Pulls his sleeve._) Better not!

BRIGELLA.

And now with this heart of gold of mine blest
if I ain't got to conduct this broth of a boy,
bless his honest face! to the block, by command
of my mistress, the high and mighty Turandot
...the cru'l Turandot. (_Sobs._)

TRUFFALDINO

(_Pushing_ BRIGELLA _aside._) That's enough.
Get out of that. A regular rogue. Standing
there and talking about florins.... H'm!
Regular rogue.

(PANTALONE _pulls his sleeve_.)

Ah! quite so. I am Truffaldino, by your leave.
Truffaldino from the Giudeccao Quite so.
(_Turning towards_ BRIGELLA.) Regular rogue.
It is monstrous that the dirtiest rascals