They stood at the railing of their box as they talked, presenting themselves for inspection. For the proscenium where the actors cavorted was only the most obvious of the Opera House's stages, and the story that they acted out was only one of several dramas all going on at once. For example, the Stadholder's box, only a few yards away, was being ransacked by Blue Guards looking for French bombs. That had grown tedious, and so now the Duke of Monmouth and his latest mistress had the attention of most everyone. The gaze of so many major V.O.C. shareholders, through so many custom-ground lenses, made Eliza feel like an insect ‘neath a Natural Philosopher's burning-glass. She was glad that this Turkish courtesan's get-up included a veil, which hid everything but her eyes.