Straforel monologue (Act 1) — The Romancers: A Comedy in Three Acts

Indeed I have. I have the ordinary vulgar abduction in a cab, with two men dressed in black--that's rarely used; the daylight abduction, the midnight abduction; the pompous abduction in a court carriage, with powdered servants--wigs are extra--with mutes, negroes, brigands, musketeers, anything you like! The abduction in a post-chaise, with two, three, four, five, horses, ad lib.; the discreet and quiet abduction, in a small carriage-- that one's rather lugubrious; the rollicking abduction, in which the victim is carried away in a sack; the romantic abduction in a boat--but a lake is necessary!--the Venetian abduction, in a gondola--ah, you have no lagoon! Moonlight abduction, or the abduction on a dark and starless night--those moonlight abductions are quite the style, though they are a little dear!--Besides these, there is the abduction by torch-light, with cries and screams, and clash and shock of arms; the brutal abduction, the polite abduction; the classical one with masks; the gallant abduction to the accompaniment of music; but the latest, most stylish, gayest of all, is the sedan-chair abduction!