Mifs RICHLAND.

He! why Sir Gilbert and his family have been in the country this month.

LOFTY.

This month! It muft certainly be fo-Sir Gilbert's letter did come to me from Newmarket, fo that he must have met his lordship there; and fo it came about. I have his letter about me; I'll read it to you. (Taking out a large bundle.) That's from Paoli of Corfica, that from the marquis of Squilachi. Have you a mind to fee a letter from count Poniatowski, now king of Poland-Honeft Pon(Searching.) O, Sir, what are you here too? I'll tell you what, honeft friend, if you have not abfolutely delivered my letter to Sir William Honeywood, you may return it. The thing will do without him.

Sir WILLIAM.

Sir, I have delivered it; and muft inform you, it was received with the moft mortifying contempt.

CROAKER.

Contempt! Mr. Lofty, what can that mean?

LOFTY.

Let him go on, let him go on, I fay. You'll find it come to fomething presently.

Sir WILLIAM.

Yes, Sir, I believe you'll be amazed, if, after waiting fome time in the anti-chamber, after being. furveyed with infolent curiofity by the paffing fer

vants, I was at laft affurcd, that Sir William Honeywood knew no fuch perfon, and I must certainly have been impofed upon.

LOFTY.

Good; let me die; very good. Ha! ha! ha! CROAKER.

Now, for my life, I can't find out half the goodnefs of it.

LOFTY.

You can't. Ha! ha!

CROAKER,

No, for the foul of me! I think it was as confounded a bad anfwer, as ever was fent from one private gentleman to another..

LOFTY..

And so you can't find out the force of the meffage? Why, I was in the house at that very time. Ha ha! It was I that fent that very answer to my own letter. Ha! ha!

CROAKER.

Indeed! How! why!

LOFTY.

In one word, things between Sir William and me must be behind the curtain. A party has many eyes. He fides with lord Buzzard, I fide with Sir Gilbert Goofe. So that unriddles the mystery.

CROAKER.

And fo it does, indeed; and all my fufpicions are

over.

LOFTY.

LOFTY.

Your fufpicions! What, then, you have been fufpecting, you have been fufpecting have you? Mr. Croaker, you and I were friends; we are friends no longer. Never talk to me. It's over; I fay, it's over.

CROAKER.

As I hope for your favour, I did not mean to of fend. It efcaped me. Don't be difcompofed.

LOFTY.

Zounds! Sir, but I am difcompofed, and will be difcompofed. To be treated thus! Who am I ! Was it for this, I have been dreaded both by ins and cuts! Have I been libelled in the Gazetteer, and praised in the St. James's? have I been chaired at Wildman's, and a fpeaker at Merchant-Taylors Hall? have I had my hand to addreffes, and my head in the print-fhops; and talk to me of fufpects?

CROAKER.

My dear Sir, be pacified. What can you have but afking pardon?

LOFTY.

Sir, I will not be pacified-Sufpects! Who am I! To be used thus! Have I paid court to men in favour, to ferve my friends; the lords of the trea fury, Sir William Honeywood, and the reft of the gang, and talk to me of suspects! Who am I, I fay, who am I!

Sir WILLIAM.

Since, Sir, you are fo prefling for an answer, I'll tell you who you are. A gentleman, as well acquainted with politics, as with men in power; as well acquainted with perfons of fashion, as with modefty; with lords of the treafury, as with truth; and with all, as you are with Sir William Honeywood. I am Sir William Honeywood.

[Difcovering his enfigns of the Bath. CROAKER.

Sir William Honeywood!

HONEYWOOD.

Astonishment! my uncle!

LOFTY.

[Afide.

So then, my confounded genius has been all this time only leading me up to the garret, in order to fling me out of the window.

CROAKER.

What, Mr. Importance, and are these your works! Sufpect you? Sufpect you? You who have been dreaded by the ins and outs: you, who have had your hand to addresses, and your head ftuck up in printfhops. If you were served right, you should have your head stuck up in the pillory.

LOFTY.

Aye, ftick it where you will; for, by the Lord, it cuts but a very poor figure where it sticks at pre

fent.

Sir WILLIAM.

Well, Mr. Croaker, I hope you now see how incapable this gentleman is of ferving you, and how little Mifs Richland has to expect from his influ

ence.

CROAKER.

Aye, Sir, too well I fee it; and I can't but say I have had fome boding of it these ten days. So, I'm refolved, fince my fon has placed his affections on a lady of moderate fortune, to be fatisfied with his choice, and not run the hazard of another Mr. Lofty, in helping him to a better.

Sir WILLIAM.

I approve your refolution; and here they come, to receive a confirmation of your pardon and confent.

Enter Mrs. CROAKER, JARVIS, LEONTINE,

and OLIVIA.

Mrs. CROAKER.

Where's my husband! Come, come, lovey, you must forgive them. Jarvis here has been to tell me the whole affair; and, I fay, you must forgive them. Our own was a stolen match, you know, my dear; and we never had any reason to repent of it.

CROAKER.