The two began to converse as the play appointed, De Stancy turning to her with this reply-- 'Rebuke me not for that which you provoke; The virtue of your eye must break my oath.' So far all was well; and Paula opened her lips for the set rejoinder.
But before she had spoken De Stancy continued-- 'If I profane with my unworthy hand (Taking her hand) This holy shrine, the gentle fine is this-- My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.' Somerset stared.

Surely in this comedy the King never addressed the Princess in such warm words; and yet they were Shakespeare's, for they were quite familiar to him.

A dim suspicion crossed his mind.

Mrs.
Goodman had brought a copy of Shakespeare with her, which she kept in her lap and never looked at: borrowing it, Somerset turned to 'Romeo and Juliet,' and there he saw the words which De Stancy had introduced as gag, to intensify the mild love-making of the other play.

Meanwhile De Stancy continued-- 'O then, dear Saint, let lips do what hands do; They pray, grant thou, lest faith turn to despair.
Then move not, while my prayer's effect I take.
Thus from my lips, by yours, my sin is purg'd!' Could it be that De Stancy was going to do what came next in the stage direction--kiss her?
Before there was time for conjecture on that point the sound of a very sweet and long-drawn osculation spread through the room, followed by loud applause from the people in the cheap seats.