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134
RUDDIGORE

Sir D.
Ch.
Sir D.
Ch.
Sir D.
Ch.
Sir D.

Ch. [Explaining to each other.]
Sir D.
Ch. [Explaining to each other.]
Sir D.
Ch.
Sir D.

When in crime one is fully employed—
Like you—
Your expression gets warped and destroyed:
It do.
It's a penalty none can avoid;
How true!
I once was a nice-looking youth;
But like stone from a strong catapult—
A trice—
I rushed at my terrible cult—
hat's vice—
Observe the unpleasant result!
Not nice.
Indeed I am telling the truth!

Sir D.
Ch.
Sir D.
Ch.
Sir D.
Ch.
Sir D.

Ch.
Sir D.
Ch.
Sir D.
Ch. [Loudly.]
Sir D.

Oh, innocent, happy though poor!
That's we—
If I had been virtuous, I'm sure—
Like me—
I should be as nice-looking as you're!
May be.
You are very nice-looking indeed!
Oh, innocents, listen in time—
We doe,
Avoid an existence of crime—
Just so—
Or you'll be as ugly as I'm—
No! no!
And now, if you please, we'll proceed.

[All the girls express their horror of Sir Despard. As he approaches them they fly from him, terror-stricken, leaving him alone on the stage.

Sir D. Poor children, how they loathe me—me whose hands are certainly steeped in infamy, but whose heart is as the heart of a little child! But what is a poor baronet to do, when a whole picture-gallery of ancestors step down from their frames and