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more cute at private business-So I resolved to deliver it safely--Is your honour's name Clifford?

Lord G. No, indeed, friend, I am not so happy a

man.

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Sir C. [Aside.] That letter must not be lost though. Here, my friend-I'll take charge of your letter. [Takes the Letter.] Something for your pains.

Chairman. God bless your honour, and if you want to send an answer, my number is forty-seven in Bond Street-your honour, I am known by the name of secret Tom. [Exit. Lord G. What is the use of this deceit ? strong as my suspicion is, a seal must be sacred.

Sir C. Our circumstances make an exception to your rule: when there is treason in the state, wax gives way. [Takes the Letter, opens and reads it.] 'Faith, this is beyond my expectation-though the mystery is unfathomable, the aptness of it to my purpose is admirable-Gayville-I wish you joy.

Lord G. Of what?

Sir C. Of conviction! if this is not plain! only hear. [Reads.] Since my confused lines of a few minutes past, my perplexities redouble upon my spirits-I am in momentary apprehension of farther insult from the Alscrip family; I am still more anxious to avoid Lord Gayville, [Pauses and looks at LORD GAYVILLE.] do not suspect my sincerity--I have not a thought of him that ought to disturb you. Here she is, Gayville, look at her, through the true medium of mutual affection -I have not a thought of him that ought to disturb you -Fly to me, secure me, my dearest Henry. Lord G. Dearest Henry!

Sir C. [Reads on.] Dearest Henry-In this call, the danger of your Harriet unites with the impatience of her affection.

Lord G. Hell, and fury! this must be some trick, ome forgery. [Snatches the Letter.]-No, by all that's

perfidious, it is that exquisite hand, that baffles imi

tation.

Sir C. All, regular, strict, undeviating modern morals-common property is the first principle of friendship; your horse, your house, your purse, your mistress-nay, your wife, would be a better example still of the doctrine of this generous age. Bless for

tune, Gayville, that has brought the fidelity of your friend and your girl to the test at the same time.

Lord G. Sir, I am not in a humour for any spleen but my own. What can this mean? It must have been a secret attachment for years-but then the avowal of a correspondence, and the confusion at receiving it his coldness in traducing her; the passionate interest he expressed in her fate; the conviction of his second letter-It is all delirium. I'll search the matter to the bottom, though I go to Clifford's heart for it. [Exit in great anger. Sir C. I'll after the precious fellow too-He is a rogue above my hopes, and the intricacy of his snares excite my curiosity.

[Exit

SCENE III.

LADY EMILY'S Apartment.

LADY EMILY discovered, reading.

Lady E. It will not do. My eyes may run over a thousand subjects, but my thoughts centre in one. Ah! that sigh! that sigh from the fair sufferer this morning I have found it echo in my own heart ever since.

Enter SERVANT.

Serv. Madam, Mr. Blandish.

Lady E. Pooh! did you say I was at home? Serv. Your ladyship gave no orders to the contrary.

Lady E. Show him in. [Exit SERVANT.] I must take up my air of levity again-It is the only humour for a fellow who I sometimes allow to entertain me, but who can never get my esteem. I have more calls upon my affectation this unlucky day, than my real disposition would execute in a long life.

Enter BLANDISH.

Lady E. Blandish, I am horridly peevish; have you any thing new to divert me?

Blandish. If you ask me for news, the latest is, that Clifford has been detected in a clandestine intercourse with the object of Lord Gayville's secret passion; that he has betrayed the confidence of his friend and patron, and actually carried her off. [Aside.] Which Gayville knows by this time, with all its aggravations, or Prompt has not been as active as he used to be.

Lady E. [With Emotion.] Blandish, this is a poor project. Clifford treacherous to his friend? You might as soon make me believe Gayville dispassionate, my uncle charitable, or you ingenuous.

Blandish. His conduct does not rest upon opinion, but proof; and when you know it, you must think of him with aversion.

Lady E. Must I? Then don't let me hear a word more I have aversions enough already―[Peevishly. Blandish. It is impossible you can apply that word to one whose only offence is to adore you.

· Enter CLIFFORD.

[Kisses her Hand.

Cliff. [Aside, surprised.] Blandish so favoured?

Lady E. [Aside.] Perverse accident: what mistakes now will he make!

Blandish. [Aside.] The enemy has surprised mebut the only remedy in such emergences, is to show a good countenance.

Cliff. I fear I have been guilty of an unpardonable intrusion.

Blandish. Mr. Clifford never can intrude; but though you had not come so apropos yourself-Lady Emily will bear testimony, I have not spared my pains to remove any prejudices she might have entertained.

Lady E. Had you not better repeat in your own words, Mr. Blandish, all the obliging things you have said of this gentleman ?

Cliff. It is not necessary, madam-if without robbing you of moments that I perceive are preciousLady E. Sir?

Cliff. I might obtain a short audience—

[Looking at BLANDISH. Blandish. [Aside.] He's devilish impudent-but he cannot soon get over facts, and I'll take care the conference shall not be long. [TO LADY EMILY,]— Lady Emily; hear Mr. Clifford, and judge if I have misrepresented him-[To CLIFFORD.] When you want a friend, you know where to find him. [Exit.

Lady E. This is an interview, Mr. Clifford, that I desire not to be understood to have authorized. It is not to me, you are accountable for your actions-I have no personal interest in them.

Cliff. I know it well.

Lady E. [Feevishly.] Do not run away with the notion neither, that I am therefore interested in any other person's-You bave among you vexed and disconcerted me, but there is not a grain of partiality in all my embarrassment-if you have any eyes, you may see there is not.

Cliff. Happy Blandish! your triumph is evident.

Lady E. Blandish, the odious creature-He is my abhorrence-You are hardly worse yourself in my bad opinion, though you have done so much more to deserve it.

Cliff. How cruel are the circumstances that compel me to leave you under these impressions !—naymore--at such a time to urge a request, that during your most favourable thoughts of me would have appeared strange if not presumptuous.-This is the key of my apartment. It contains a secret that the exigency of the hour obliged me, against inclination or propriety, to lodge there. Should Sir Clement return before me, I implore you to prevent his discovery, and give to what you find within, your confidence and protection. Lord Gayville-but I shall go too far the most anxious event of my life presses on me. I conjure you to comply, by all the compassion and tenderness nature has treasured in your heart-not for me-but for occasions worthy their display. Pray take it.

[Gives the Key, which she receives with some reluctance and exit.

Lady E. Heigho !-It's well, he's gone without insisting on my answer: I was in a sad flutter of indecision. What mysterious means he takes to engage me in a confidence which I could not directly accept! ---I am to find a letter, I suppose-the story of his heart-Its errors and defence-My brother's name, also-to furnish me with a new interest in the secret, and one I might avow-One may dislike this art, but must be sensible of his delicacy-Ah, when these two qualities unite in a man, I am afraid he is an overmatch for the wisest of us-Hark! -sure that is the sound of my uncle's coach-[Looks out of the Window.] "Tis he-and now for the secret-Curiosity! innate irresistible principle in womankind, be my excuse, before I dare question my mind upon other mo

tives.

[Exit.

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