O, land of my birth! yet shall peace be thy portion, Enter Sir FRANCIS FADDLE*. Fad. Custom-house officers, don't tell mecustom-house officers, indeed-they broke open all my trunks, ransack'd my whole wardrobe, put every individual thing into utter confusion, and me into a passion!-I shall not be able now, to make myself irrestible these two days-such a pack of savages I never Hey! what, Laure!! is it possible? Lau. Frank! Fad. Who, in the name of all that's wonderful, would have thought of plumping upon you the instant I set foot in France. Lau. The fact is, I have just been liberatedthe cessation of hostilities now allows me to return to England. Fad. Ah! that's the very reason I left England that going abroad in time of war is prodigiously inconvenient. Lau. Your father, the Admiral, never found it inconvenient, Sir Francis. Fad. Oh, yes, he did-very-he absolutely lost his life in the service of his country. Lau. For which reason, I perceive, there is no danger of your country losing you. Fad. Oh, yes; St. James's Street must endeavour to do without me for a short time-not that I see what I can possibly learn in France. It is necessary to remark, that Sir Francis, from affectation, has acquired a habit of pronouncing the r, like the letter y. For instance: You rough rogue, he pronounces, "you yongh yogue"-and, critical crisis, "cytical cysis." Lau. One lesson at all events--you'll learn how to set a just value on the blessings you enjoy in your own country. Fad. Ha! hum! Yes, dear me, that's very prettily said. But, Captain Laurel, my motive is matrimony, with an absolute rara avis-an article that will do us credit-I protest, her tout ensemble is so irresistibly fascinating, that I am actually pining to death for her-positively my senses seem to be leaving me. Lau. Upon my soul, I think so-I'm perfectly of your opinion, Sir Francis. But tell me, what is the fair one's name, Faddle? Fad. Faddle! no; the fair creature's name is not Faddle yet, but it soon will-Lady Faddle!no, at present she is call'd Eliza Arundel. Lau. Eliza Arundel! my sister!-then she is still in France. (Aside). Fad. You must know, she is the child of a second marriage-both father and mother are defunct-but I am told Eliza has a half-brother, an Officer of some kind in the Navy. Now these brothers are sometimes very inconvenient to us; and as he has been in the thick of war's alarms, I hope by this time that he's pop'd off. Lau. He's much obliged by your good wishes. Fad. Eliza resides at this place, with a stiff frump of an aunt, Miss Eleanor Arundel. Tom! Tom Tough! (Calling towards the Hotel), Enter GUILLAUME and Lisette. Guil. Now, while Jaques attends the Commandant on a different route, if I can see Altieri, you, Lisette, may conduct him to the cottage of the vineyard 'twas well you followed me so Lau. Ah, Guillaume! my kind-hearted guard, what brings you to Dieppe so suddenly? Guil. I am in search of a fugitive-perhaps, Sir,. you may have seen him. (Retires with Laurel). Fad. Tom, I say where the plague is Tom? -stuffing himself with lobscouse, I protest. Tom. Aye, aye, Sir! (coming from the Hotel, ALTIERI following, retreats at the appearance of strangers). Fad. Take this billet-doux to Madmoiselle Arundel, as they call her here no blunder now. с Tom. To Mad1 E. Arundel-wliat's the lady mad? Fad. Mademoiselle-'tis directed to Elizamind, no blunders-Adieu, Laurel, adieu! Waiter,. a dressing-room immediately-Waiter! [Exit, Tom. Never sail'd in the packet service afore,: so I'll stow it away under hatches-I'll give it a birth a-board my bacco-box.. Lau. I have seen no man so dress'd here-A black cloak Guil. And a broad hat and feather, that is the description given in this order for his apprehension. Tom. Hey! how was he rigg'd, brother? overhawl that article again. Guil. A dark cloak Tom. So, so a pirate has hung out the signal' of distress, and I have (Here ALTIERI appears at the window)-Well, they may sink him without my help; I have been on a lee-shore myself before now, and damn me if I betray him. (Here ALTIERI appears at the window, imploring Toм). Guil. Have you seen him? Tom. Where should I have seen him?-I'll lead 'em into a different part o'the house-he may then slip his cable, and scud out o'port without being hail'd. ག Enter JAQUES, with Soldiers. Jaq. We have traced him at last. You station yourself at that door, the rest follow me into the house. Guil. Then he is lost! (Aside.) Jaq. Come! Tom. Stand by, you lubber-I'll show you the way. QUARTETTO-LAUREL, TOM Tough, Jaques, and LISETTE. Tom. Now follow, I will lead the way. Be steady Lau. Yet a moment stay. Guil. (Reading paper). Five feet eight inches - Lis. Guil. A broad-brim'd hat, with feathers on. All. Be steady now, be cautious, pray. (While the description is sung, ALTIERI is seen to throw off his dress at the articles described). [Exeunt all but GUILLAUME, LISette, and Centinel. (The Centinel parades before the door of the Hotel-LISETTE endeavours to attract his attention, while GUILLAUME makes signs to ALTIERI to descend-this is render'd difficult, from the peculiar direction of the { f soldier's march backward and forward; until LISETTE engages the notice of the centinel, when GUILLAUME lifting a package on others which are about the spot, secures the descent of the fugitive, and drawing his sword, interrupts and threatens the soldier, for his gallantry to LISETTE ALTIERI rushing off at the moment.The soldier seizes his firelock to defend himself.-Music appropriate, which at the entrance of the COMMANDANT with other Soldiers, bursts into a Chorus.-JAQUES appears at the window from which ALTIERI has escaped-Toм returns with Soldiers, laughing at their disappointment). Jaq. This way he has escaped. (From window). CHORUS-SOLDIERS, A short reprieve, his race is run- END OF THE FIRST ACT, |