BELCOUR enters, and throws himself upon a sofa. Bel. O my curst tropical constitution! Would to Heaven I had been dropt upon the snows of Lapland, and never felt the blessed influence of the sun, so I had never burnt with these inflammatory passions! Stock. So, so! you seem disordered, Mr Belcour? bel. Disordered, sir! Why did I ever quit the soil in which I grew? what evil planet drew me from that warm sunny region, where naked nature walks without disguise, into this cold, contriving, artificial country? Stock. Come, sir, you've met a rascal-what of that? general conclusions are illiberal. Bel. No, sir; I've met reflection by the way; I've come from folly, noise, and fury, and met a silent monitor-Well, well, a villain!-'twas not to be pardoned-pray, never mind me, sir. Stock. Alas, my heart bleeds for him! Bel. And yet I might have heard him now, plague upon that blundering Irishman for coming in as he did! the hurry of the deed might palliate the event: deliberate execution has less to plead Mr Stockwell, I am bad company to you. Stock. Oh, sir, make no excuse. I think you have not found me forward to pry into the secrets of your pleasures and pursuits; 'tis not my disposition; but there are times, when want of curiosity would be want of friendship. Bel. Ah, sir, mine is a case wherein you and I shall never think alike; the punctilious rules, by which I am bound, are not to be found in your ledgers, nor will pass current in the counting-house of a trader. Stock. 'Tis very well, sir: if you think I can render you any service, it will be worth your trial to confide in me; if not, your secret is safer in your own bosom. Bel. That sentiment demands my confidence: pray, sit down by me. You must know, I have an affair of honour on my hands with young Dudley; and, though I put up with no man's insult, yet I wish to take away no man's life. Stock. I know the young man, and am apprised of your generosity to his father: what can have bred a quarrel between you? Bel. A foolish passion on my side, and a haughty provocation on his. There is a girl, Mr Stockwell, whom I have unfortunately seen, of most uncommon beauty. She has, withal, an air of so much natural modesty, that had I not had good assurance of her being an attainable wanton, I declare I should as soon have thought of attempting the chastity of Diana. Enter Servant. Stock. Hey-day, do you interrupt us? Ser. Sir, there's an Irish gentleman will take no denial; he says he must see Mr Belcour directly, upon business of the last consequence. Bel. Admit him: 'tis the Irish officer that parted us, and brings me young Dudley's challenge: I should have made a long story of it, and he'll tell you in three words. Enter O'FLAHERTY. O'Fla. Save you, my dear and you, sir! I have a little bit of a word in private for you. Bel. Pray deliver your commands: this gentleman is my intimate friend. O'Fla. Why, then, ensign Dudley will be glad to measure swords with you, yonder, at the London Tavern, in Bishopsgate-street, at nine o'clock— you know the place! Bel. I do; and shall observe the appointment. O'Fla. Will you be of the party, sir? We shall want a fourth hand. Stock. Savage as the custom is, I close with your proposal; and, though I am not fully informed of the occasion of your quarrel, I shall rely on Mr Belcour's honour for the justice of it; and willingly stake my life in his defence. O'Fla. Sir, you're a gentleman of honour, and I shall be glad of being better known to youBut hark'e, Belcour, I had like to have forgot part of my errand: there is the money you gave old Dudley; you may tell it over, 'faith; 'tis a receipt in full: now the lad can put you to death with a safe conscience; and when he has done that job for you, let it be a warning how you attempt the sister of a man of honour. Bel. The sister! O'Fla. Ay, the sister; 'tis English, is it not? Or Irish; 'tis all one: you understand me? his sister, or Louisa Dudley, that's her name, I think, call her which you will. By St Patrick, 'tis a foolish piece of a business, Belcour, to go about to take away a poor girl's virtue from her, when there are so many to be met in this town, who have disposed of theirs to your hands. [Exit. Stock. Why, I am thunderstruck! What is it you have done, and what is the shocking business in which I have engaged? If I understood him right, 'tis the sister of young Dudley you've been attempting: you talked to me of a professed wanton! the girl he speaks of has beauty enough indeed to inflame your desires, but she has honour, innocence, and simplicity, to awe most licentious passion: if you have done that, Mr Belcour, I renounce you, I abandon you, I forswear all fellowship or friendship with you for ever. Bel. Have patience for a moment: we do indeed speak of the same person-but she is not innocent, she is not young Dudley's sister. Stock. Astonishing! Who told you this? Bel. The woman where she lodges; the person who put me on the pursuit, and contrived our meetings. Stock. What woman? what person? Send Mr Stukely hither directly. [Exit Ser.] I begin to see my way into this dark transaction. Mr Belcour, Mr Belcour! you are no match for the cunning and contrivances of this intriguing town. Enter STUKELY. Bel. Because I had not lived long enough in your country to know how few informers' words are to be taken: persuaded, however, as I was of Miss Dudley's guilt, I must own to you, I was staggered with the appearance of such innocence, especially when I saw her admitted into Miss Rusport's company. Stock. Good Heaven! did you meet her at Miss Rusport's, and could you doubt of her being a woman of reputation? Bel. By you, perhaps, such a mistake could not have been made; but in a perfect stranger, I hope, it is venial. I did not know what artifices Prithee, Stukely, what is the name of the wo-young Dudley might have used to conceal her man and her husband, who were stopt upon sus-character; I did not know what disgrace attendpicion of selling stolen diamonds at our next-doored the detection of it. neighbour's, the jeweller? Stuke. Fulmer. Stock. So! Bel. Can you procure me a sight of those diamonds? Stuke. They are now in my hand; I was desired to shew them to Mr Stockwell. Stock. Give them to me: what do I see? As I live, the very diamonds Miss Rusport sent hither, and which I intrusted to you to return. Bel. Yes, but I betrayed that trust, and gave them to Mrs Fulmer to present to Miss Dudley. Stock. With a view, no doubt, to bribe her to compliance? Bel. I own it. Stock. For shame, for shame! and 'twas this woman's intelligence you relied upon for Miss Dudley's character? Bel. I thought she knew her; by Heaven, I would have died sooner than have insulted a woman of virtue, or a man of honour! Stock. I see it was a trap laid for you, which you have narrowly escaped; you addressed a woman of honour with all the loose incense of a profane admirer, and you have drawn upon you the resentment of a man of honour, who thinks himself bound to protect her.Well, sir, you must atone for this mistake. Bel. To the lady, the most penitent submission I can make is justly due; but, in the execution of an act of justice, it shall never be said my soul was swayed by the least particle of fear: I have received a challenge from her brother; now, though I would give my fortune, almost my life itself, to purchase her happiness, yet I cannot abate her one scruple of my honour; I have been branded with the name of villain. Stock. Ay, sir, you mistook her character, and he mistook yours; error begets error. Bel. Villain, Mr Stockwell, is a harsh word. Stock. It is a harsh word, and should be unsaid. Stock. I think you would: but mark the dan- Bel. Come, come; it shall be unsaid. ger of licentious courses: you are betrayed, rob- Stock. Or else what follows? Why, the sword bed, abused, and, but for this providential disco- is drawn, and, to heal the wrongs you have done very, in a fair way of being sent out of the world to the reputation of the sister, you make an howith all your follies on your head- -Dear nourable amends, by murdering the brother. Stukely, go to my neighbour, tell him I have an Bel. Murdering! owner for the jewels, and beg him to carry the people under custody to the London tavern, and wait for me there. Exit STUKELY.]-I fear the law does not provide a punishment to reach the villainy of these people; but how, in the name of wonder, could you take any thing on the word of such an informer? Stock. 'Tis thus religion writes and speaks the word; in the vocabulary of modern honour there is no such term-But come, I don't despair of satisfying the one, without alarming the other; that done, I have a discovery to unfold, that you will then, I hope, be fitted to receive. [Exeunt. SCENE 1.-The London tavern. ACT V. Enter O'FLAHERTY, STOCKWELL, CHARLES, and BELCOUR. O'Fla. GENTLEMEN, well met! you understand each other's minds; and, as I see you have brought nothing but your swords, you may set to without any further ceremony. Stock. You will not find us backward in any worthy cause; but, before we proceed any further, I would ask this young gentleman, whether he has any explanation to require of Mr Bel cour. Cha. Of Mr Belcour noue; his actions speak for themselves: but to you, sir, I would fain propose one question. Stock. Name it. Cha. How is it, Mr Stockwell, that I meet a man of your character on this ground? Stock. I will answer you directly, and my answer shall not displease you. I come hither in defence of the reputation of Miss Dudley, to redress the injuries of an innocent young lady. O'Fla. By my soul the man knows he's to fight, only he mistakes which side he's to be of. Stock. You are about to draw your sword to refute a charge against your sister's honour; you would do well, if there were no better means within reach; but the proofs of her innocence are lodged in our bosoms, and, if we fall, you destroy the evidence that most effectually can clear her fame. Cha. How's that, sir? Stock. This gentleman could best explain it to you, but you have given him an undeserved name that seals his lips against you: I am not under the same inhibition; and, if your anger can call keep cool for a few minutes, I desire I may in two witnesses, who will solve all difficulties at once. Here, waiter! bring those people in that are without. have to question me, and I shall not answer till I see occasion. Stock. Had you been as silent heretofore, madam, it would have saved you some trouble; but we don't want your confession. This letter, which you wrote to Mr Belcour, will explain your design; and these diamonds, which, of right, belong to Miss Rusport, will confirm your guilt: the law, Mrs Fulmer, will make you speak, though I can't. Constable, take charge of your prisoners. Ful. Hold a moment! Mr Stockwell, you are a gentleman that knows the world, and a member of parliament; we shall not attempt to impose upon you; we know we are open to the law, and we know the utmost it can do against us. Mr Belcour has been ill used, to be sure, and so has Miss Dudley; and, for my own part, I always condemned the plot as a very foolish plot; but it was a child of Mrs Fulmer's brain, and she would not be put out of conceit with it. Mrs Ful. You are a very foolish man, Mr Fulmer; so, prithee, hold your tongue. Ful. Therefore, as I was saying, if you send her to Bridewell, it won't be amiss; and if you give her a little wholesome discipline, she may be the better for that too: but for me, Mr Stockwell, who am a man of letters, I must beseech you, sir, not to bring any disgrace upon my profession. Stock. 'Tis you, Mr Fulmer, not I, that disgrace your profession; therefore begone, nor expect that I will betray the interests of mankind so far as to shew favour to such incendiaries. Take them away; I blush to think such wretches should have the power to set two honest men at variance. [Exeunt FULMER, &c. Cha. Mr Belcour, we have mistaken each other; let us exchange forgiveness. I am convinced you intended no affront to my sister, and ask your pardon for the expression I was betrayed into. O'Fla. Out upon it, what need is there for so much talking about the matter? can't you settle Bel. 'Tis enough, sir; the error began on my your differences first, and dispute about them af-side, and was Miss Dudley here, I would be the terwards? first to atone. Stock. Let us all adjourn to my house, and conclude the evening like friends: you will find a little entertainment ready for you; and, if I am not mistaken, Miss Dudley and her father will make part of our company. Come, major, do you consent? FULMER and MRS FULMER brought in. Cha. Fulmer and his wife in custody? Stock. Yes, sir; these are your honest landlord and landlady, now in custody for defrauding this gentleman of certain diamonds intended to have O'Fla. Most readily, Mr Stockwell; a quarrel, been presented to your sister.-Be so good, Mrs well made up, is better than a victory hardly Fulmer, to inform the company why you so earned. Give me your hand, Belcour; o' my grossly scandalized the reputation of an innocent conscience, you are too honest for the country lady, by persuading Mr Belcour, that Miss Dud-you live in. And now, my dear lad, since peace ley was not the sister, but the mistress, of this is concluded on all sides, I have a discovery to gentleman. make to you, which you must find out for yourself; for deuce take me if I rightly comprehend Mrs Ful. Sir, I don't know what right you it, only that your aunt Rusport is in a conspiracy | Mr Belcour to believe he could be guilty of a against you, and a vile rogue of a lawyer, whose name I forget, at the bottom of it. Cha. What conspiracy? Dear major, recollect yourself. designed affront to an innocent girl; and I am much too well acquainted with your character, to suppose you could abet him in such design; I have no doubt, therefore, all things will be set to O'Fla. By my soul, I've no faculty at recol-rights in very few words, when we have the plealecting myself; but I've a paper somewhere about sure of seeing Mr Belcour. me, that will tell you more of the matter than I can. When I get to the merchant's, I will endeavour to find it. Cha. Well, it must be in your own way; but I confess you have thoroughly roused my curiosity. [Exeunt. SCENE II.-STOCKWELL'S house. Enter CAPTAIN DUDLEY, LOUISA, and STUKELY. Dud. And are those wretches, Fulmer and his wife, in safe custody? · Stuke. They are in good hands; I accompanied them to the tavern, where your son was to be, and then went in search of you. You may be sure Mr Stockwell will enforce the law against them as far as it will go. Dud. What mischief might their cursed machinations have produced, but for this timely discovery! Lou. Still I am terrified !-I tremble with apprehension lest Mr Belcour's impetuosity, and Charles's spirit, should not wait for an explanation, but drive them both to extremes, before the mistake can be unravelled. Stuke. Mr Stockwell is with them, madam, and you have nothing to fear-you cannot suppose he would ask you hither for any other purpose but to celebrate their reconciliation, and to receive Mr Belcour's atonement. Dud. No, no, Louisa. Mr Stockwell's honour and discretion guard us against all danger or offence-he well knows we will endure no imputation on the honour of our family, and he certainly has invited us to receive satisfaction on that score in an amicable way. Lou. Would to Heaven they were returned! Stuke. You may expect them every minute; and see, madam, agreeable to your wish, they are here. [Exit STUKE. Enter CHARLES, and afterwards STOCKWELL and O'FLAHERTY. Lou. O Charles! O brother! how could you serve me so? how could you tell me you was going to lady Rusport's, and then set out with a design of fighting Mr Belcour? But where is he? Where is your antagonist? Stock. Captain, I am proud to see you; and you, Miss Dudley, do me particular honour. We have been adjusting, sir, a very extraordinary and dangerous mistake, which, I take for granted, my friend Stukely has explained to you. Dud. He has. I have too good an opinion of Stock. He has only stept into the comptinghouse, and will wait upon you directly. You will not be over strict, madam, in weighing Mr Belcour's conduct to the minutest scruple. His manners, passions, and opinions, are not, as yet, assimilated to this climate; he comes amongst you a new character, an inhabitant of a new world; and both hospitality, as well as pity, recommend him to our indulgence. Enter BELCOUR, who bows to MISS DUDLEY. Bel. I am happy, and ashamed, to see youno man in his senses would offend you-I forfeited mine, and erred against the light of the sun, when I overlooked your virtues-but your beauty was predominant, and hid them from my sight-I now perceive I was the dupe of a most improbable report, and humbly entreat your pardon. Lou. Think no more of it; 'twas a mistake. Bel. My life has been composed of little else; 'twas founded in mystery, and has continued in error: I was once given to hope, Mr Stockwell, that you was to have delivered me from these difficulties; but, either I do not deserve your confidence, or I was deceived in my expectations. Stock. When this lady has confirmed your pardon, I shall hold you deserving of my confi dence. Lou. That was granted the moment it was asked. Bel. To prove my title to his confidence, honour me so far with yours, as to allow me a few minutes conversation in private with you. [She turns to her father. Dud. By all means, Louisa; come, Mr Stockwell, let us go into another room. Cha. And now, major O'Flaherty, I claim your promise of a sight of the paper, that is to unravel this conspiracy of my aunt Rusport's: I think I have waited with great patience. O'Fla. I have been endeavouring to call to mind what it was I overheard—I've got the paper, and will give you the best account I can of the whole transaction. Enter BELCOVR and LOUISA. [Exeunt. Bel. Miss Dudley, I have solicited this audience, to repeat to you my penitence and confusion. How shall I atone? What reparation can I make to you and virtue? Lou. To me there's nothing due, nor any thing demanded of you, but your more favourable opinion for the future, if you should chance to think of me. Upon the part of virtue, I'm not empowered to speak; but if, hereafter, as you range through life, you should surprise her in the person of some wretched female, poor as myself, and not so well protected, enforce not your advantage, complete not your licentious triumph, but raise her, rescue her from shame and sorrow, and reconcile her to herself again. Enter O'FLAHERTY, and afterwards DUDLEY and CHARLES with STOCKWELL. O'Fla. Joy, joy, joy! Sing, dance, leap, laugh for joy! Ha' done making love, and fall down on your knees to every saint in the calendar; for they're all on your side, and honest St. Patrick at the head of them. Cha. O Louisa, such an event! By the luckiest chance in life, we have discovered a will of my grandfather's, made in his last illness, by which he cuts off my aunt Rusport with a small annuity, and leaves me heir to his whole estate, with a fortune of fifteen thousand pounds to yourself. Lou. What is it you tell me? O, sir, instruct me to support this unexpected turn of fortune. [To her father. Bel. I will, I will: by bearing your idea ever present in my thoughts, virtue shall keep an advocate within me. But tell me, loveliest, when you pardon the offence, can you, all perfect as you are, approve of the offender? As I now cease to view you in that false light I lately did, can you, and, in the fulness of your bounty, will you, cease also to reflect upon the libertine addresses I have paid you, and look upon me as your re-Providence-'tis the justice of Heaven, that formed, your rational admirer? would not suffer innocence to be oppressed, nor your base aunt to prosper in her cruelty and cunning. Lou. Are sudden reformations apt to last? and how can I be sure the first fair face you meet will not ensnare affections so unsteady, and that I shall not lose you lightly as I gained you? Bel. Because, though you conquered me by surprise, I have no inclination to rebel; because, since the first moment that I saw you, every instant has improved you in my eyes; because, by principle as well as passion, I am unalterably yours in short, there are ten thousand causes for my love to you :-would to Heaven 1 could plant one in your soft bosom, that might move you to return it! Lou. Nay, Mr Belcour Bel. I know I am not worthy your regard. I know I'm tainted with a thousand faults, sick of a thousand follies; but there's a healing virtue in your eyes that makes recovery certain. I cannot be a villain in your arms. Dud. Name not fortune; 'tis the work of [A servant whispers BELCOUR, and he goes out.] O'Fla. You shall pardon me, captain Dudley, but you must not overlook St Patrick neither;for, by my soul, if he had not put it into my head to slip behind the screen when your righte teous aunt and the lawyer were plotting toge gether, I don't see how you would ever have come at the paper there, that master Stockwell is reading. Dud. True, my good friend; you are the father of this discovery; but how did you contrive to get this will from the lawyer? O'Fla. By force, my dear-the only way of getting any thing from a lawyer's clutches. Stock. Well, major, when he brings his action of assault and battery against you, the least Dudley can do is, to defend you with the weaLou. That you can never be: whomever youpons you have put into his hands. shall honour with your choice, my life upon't that Cha. That I am bound to do; and after the woman will be happy: it is not from suspicion happiness I shall have in sheltering a father's that I hesitate, it is from honour: 'tis the seve-age from the vicissitudes of life, my next delight rity of my condition: it is the world, that never will be in offering you an asylum in the bosom of will interpret fairly in our case. your country. Bel. Oh, what am I? and who in this wide world concerns himself for such a nameless, such a friendless thing as I am? I see, Miss Dudley, I've not yet obtained your pardon. Lou. Nay, that you are in full possession of Bel. Oh, seal it with your hand then, loveliest of women; confirm it with your heart; make me honourably happy, and crown your penitent, not with your pardon only, but your love. O'Fla. And upon my soul, my dear, 'tis high time I was there; for 'tis now thirty long years since I set foot in my native country-and, by the power of St Patrick I swear, I think it's worth all the rest of the world put together. Dud. Ay, major, much about that time have I been beating the round of service, and 'twere well for us both to give over: we have stood many a tough gale, and abundance of hard blows; but Charles shall lay us up in a little private, but safe, harbour, where we'll rest from our labours, and peacefully wind up the remainder of our days. O'Fla. Agreed; and you may take it as a proof of my esteem, young man, that major O'Flaherty accepts a favour at your hands-for, |