Lee. And is Miss Moreland your sister? Bel. Sir, there is insolence in the question; you know she is. Lee. By heaven, I did not know it till this moment! but I rejoice at the discovery: This is blow for blow! Con. Devil burn me but they have fairly made a swop of it! Bel. And you really didn't know that Miss Moreland was my sister? and save yourself the trouble of an expedition to Scotland. Lee. Can I believe you serious? Bel. Zounds, Leeson, that air of surprise is a sad reproach! I didn't surprise you, when I did a bad action, but I raise your astonishment, when I do a good one. Con. And by my soul, Mr Belville, if you knew how a good action becomes a man, you'd never do a bad one as long as you lived. Lee. I don't conceive myself under_much necessity of apologizing to you, sir; but I am incapable of a dishonourable design upon any woman; and though Miss Moreland, in our short acquaintance, repeatedly mentioned her brother, she never once told me, that his name was Bel-ber, that her elopement proceeded from the great ville. Bel. Well, Mr Leeson, our families have shewn such a very strong inclination to come together, that it would really be a pity to disappoint them. Con. Upon my soul and so it would! though the dread of being forced to have a husband, the young lady tells us, quickened her resolution to marry this gentleman. Bel. O she had no violence of that kind to apprehend from her family; therefore, Mr Leeson, since you seem as necessary for the girl's happiness as she seems for yours, you shall marry her here in town, with the consent of all her friends, Lee. You have given me life and happiness in one day, Mr Belville! however, it is now time you should see your sister. I know you will be gentle with her, though you have so much reason to condemn her choice, and generously rememimprobability there was of a beggar's ever meeting with the approbation of her family. Bel. Don't apologize for your circumstances, Leeson; a princess could do no more than make you happy; and if you make her so, you meet her upon terms of the most perfect equality. Lee. This is a new way of thinking, Mr Belville. Bel. 'Tis only an honest way of thinking; and I consider my sister a gainer on the occasion; for a man of your merit is more difficult to be found, than a woman of her fortune. [Exeunt LEESON and BELVILLE. Con. What's the reason now, that I can't skip, and laugh, and rejoice, at this affair? Upon my soul, my heart's as full as if I had met with some great misfortune. Well, pleasure in the extreme is certainly a very painful thing; and I am really ashamed of these woman's drops, and yet I don't know but that I ought to blush for being ashamed of them; for I am sure nobody's eye looks ever half so well, as when it is disfigured by a tear of humanity. [Erit. SCENE I-A drawing-room. ACT V. Enter BELVILLE. Bel. WELL, happiness is once more mine, and the women are all going in tip-top spirits to the masquerade. Now, Mr Belville, let me have a few words with you. Miss Wassingham, the ripe, the luxurious Miss Walsingham, expects to find you there burning with impatience-But, my dear friend, after the occurrences of the day, can you be weak enough to plunge into fresh crimes? Can you be base enough to abuse the goodness of that angel your wife; and wicked enough, not only to destroy the innocence, which is sheltered beneath your own roof, but to expose your family, perhaps, again to the danger of losing a son, a brother, a father, and a husband? The possession of the three Graces is surely too poor a recompense for the folly you must commit, for the shame you must feel, and the consequence you must hazard. Upon my soul, if I struggle a little longer, I shall rise in my own opinion, and be less a rascal than I think myself:-Ah, but the object is bewitching-the matter will be an eternal secret-and if it is known that I sneak in this pitiful manner from a fine woman, when the whole elysium of her person solicits me!—well, and am I afraid the world should know that I have shrunk from an infamous action?-A thousand blessings on you, dear conscience, for that one argument-I shall be an honest man after all. Suppose, however, that I give her the meeting? that's dangerous-that's dangerous :-and I am so little accustomed to do what is right, that I shall certainly do what is wrong, the moment I am in the way of temptation. Come, Belville, your resolution is not so very slender a dependence; and you owe Miss Walsingham repara tion for the injury which you have done her prin- | ciples. I'll give her the meeting-I'll take her to the house I intended-I'll-Zounds! what a fool I have been all this time, to look for precarious satisfaction in vice, when there is such exquisite pleasure to a certainty to be found in virtue! [Exit BEL. Enter LADY RACHEL and MRS BELVILLE, Lady Rach. For mirth's sake, don't let him see us: There has been a warm debate between his passion and his conscience. Mrs Bel. And the latter is the conqueror, my life for it. Lady Rach. Dear Mrs Belville, you are the best of women, and ought to have the best of husbands. Mrs Bel. I have the best of husbands. Lady Rach. I have not time to dispute the matter with you now; but I shall put you into my comedy, to teach wives, that the best receipt for matrimonial happiness, is to be deaf, dumb, and blind. Mrs Bel. Poh, poh! you are are a satirist, lady Rachel!-But we are losing time; should not we put on our dresses, aud prepare for the grand scene? Lady Rach. Don't you tremble at the trial? Mrs Bel. Not in the least; I am sure my heart has no occasion. Lady Rach. Have you let Miss Walsingham into our little plot? Mrs Bel. You know she could not be insensible of Mr Belville's design upon herself; and it it is no farther than that design, we have any thing to carry into execution. Lady Rach. Well, she may serve to facilitate the matter; and, therefore, I am not sorry that you have trusted her. Mrs Bel. We shall be too late; and, then, what signifies all your fine plotting? Lady Rach. Is it not a little pang of jealousy that would fain quicken our motions? Mrs Bel. No, lady Rachel, it is a certainty of my husband's love and generosity, that makes me wish to come to the trial. I would not exchange my confidence in his affection for all the mines of Peru; so, nothing you can say can make me miserable. Lady Rach. You are a most unaccountable woman; so, away with you. [Exeunt. Enter SPRUCE and GHASTLY. Spruce. Why, Ghastly, the old general, your master, is a greater fool than I ever thought he was: He wants to marry Miss Walsingham. Ghast. Mrs Tempest suspected that there was something going forward, by all his hugger-mugger consulting with Mr Torrington: and so set me on to listen. Spruce. She's a good friend of yours; and that thing she made the general give you the other VOL. II. day in the hospital, is, I suppose, a snug hundred a-year. Ghast. Better than two; I wash for near four thousand people: there was a major of horse who put in for it, and pleaded a large familySpruce. With long service, I suppose? Ghast. Yes; but Mrs Tempest insisted upon my long services; so the major was set asideHowever, to keep the thing from the damned news-papers, I fancy he will succeed the barber, who died last night, poor woman, of a lying-in fever, after being brought to bed of three chil dren.-Places in public institutions Spruce. Are often sweetly disposed of: I think of asking Belville for something, one of these days. Ghast. He has great interest. Spruce. I might be a justice of peace, if 1 pleased, and in a shabby neighbourhood, where the mere swearing would bring in something toterable: but there are so many strange people let into the commission now a-days, that I shou'dn't like to have my name in the list. Ghast. You are right. Spruce. No, no; I leave that to paltry tradesmen, and shall think of some little sinecure, or a small pension on the Irish establishment. Ghast. Well, success attend you! I must hobble home as fast as I can, to know if Mrs Tempest has any orders. O, there's a rare storn brewing for our old goat of a general ! Spruce. When shall we crack a bottle together? Ghast. O, I shan't touch a glass of claret these three weeks; for last night I gave nature a little filip with a drunken bout, according to the doctor's directions. I have entirely left off bread, and I am in great hopes that I shall get rid of the gout by these means, especially if I can learn to eat my meat quite raw, like a cannibal. Spruce. Ha, ha, ha ! Ghast. Look at me, Spruce; I was once as likely a young fellow as any under ground in the whole parish of St James's :-but waiting on the general so many years ly? Spruce. Ay, and following his example, Ghast Ghast. "Tis too true-has reduced me to what you see. These miserable spindles would do very well for a lord or a duke, Spruce; but they are a sad disgrace to a poor valet de chambre. [Exit. Spruce. Well, I don't believe there's a gentleman's gentleman, within the weekly bills, who joins a prudent solicitude for the main chance, to a strict care of his constitution, better than myself. I have a little girl, who stands me in about three guineas a week. I never bet more than a pound upon a rubber of whist; I always sleep with my head very warm; and swallow a new-laid egg every morning with my chocolate. 6 K [Exit. SCENE II.-Changes to the street. Two chairs | cross the stage, knock at a door, and set down BELVILLE and a lady. self, if I met so mortifying a rejection, I should Bel. This way, my dear creature! [Exeunt. sist. Enter GENERAL SAVAGE, CAPTAIN SAVAGE, and Capt. Sut. There! there they go in! You see the place is quite convenient, not twenty yards from the masquerade. Gen. Sav. How closely the fellow sticks to her! Tor. Like the great seal to the peerage patent of a chancellor. But, gentlemen, we have still no more than proof presumptive :—where is the ocular demonstration which we were to have? Capt. Sav. I'll swear to the blue domino; 'tis a very remarkable one, and so is Belville's. Tor. [Behind.] This will be an affair for the Old Bailey. [The noise grows more violent, and continues. Bel. Why, what the devil is all this?-Don't be alarmed, Miss Walsingham; be assured I'll protect you, at the hazard of my life ;—step into this closet--you sha'n't be discovered, depend upon it-[She goes in.]—And now to find out the cause of this confusion. [Unlocks the door. Enter GENERAL SAVAGE, CAPTAIN SAVAGE, and TORRINGTON. Savage! what is the meaning of this strange behaviour? Capt. Sav. Where is Miss Walsingham ? Bel. So, then, sir, this is a premeditated scheme, for which I am obliged to your friend Tor. You would have rare custom among the Newgate solicitors, if you'd venture an oath up-ship. on the identity of the party under it. Gen. Sav. 'Tis the very size and shape of Miss Walsingham. Tor. And yet, I have a strange notion that there is a trifling alibi in this case. Gen. Sav. It would be a damned affair if we should be countermined. Capt. Sav. O, follow me! here's the door left luckily open, and I'll soon clear up the matter beyond a question. [Enters the house. Tor. Why your son is mad, general. This must produce a deadly breach with Belville. For Heaven's sake, let us go in, and prevent any excesses of his rashness. Gen. Sav. By all means, or the poor fellow's generous anxiety on my account may be productive of very fatal consequences. [Exeunt. SCENE III.-Changes to an apartment. BELVILLE unmasked, and a lady in a blue domino, masked. Capt. Sav. Where's Miss Walsingham, sir? Gen. Sav. Dear Belville, he is out of bis senses!—this storm was intirely against my orders. Tor. If he proceeds much longer in these vagaries, we must amuse him with a commission of lunacy. Bel. This is neither a time nor place for argument, Mr Torrington; but as you and the general seem to be in the possession of your senses, I shall be glad if you'll take this very friendly gentleman away; and depend upon it, I sha'n't die in his debt for the present obligation. Capt. Sav. And depend upon it, sir, pay the obligation when you will, I sha'n't stir till I see Miss Walsingham.-Look'e, Belville, there are secret reasons for my behaving in this manner; reasons which you yourself will approve, when you know them;-my father here Gen. Sav. Disavows your conduct in every particular, and would rejoice to see you at the halberds. Tor. And, for my part, I told him previously 'twas a downright burglary. Bel. My dear Miss Walsingham, we are now perfectly safe; yet I will by no means entreat Bel. Well, gentlemen, let your different moyou to unmask, because I am convinced, from the tives for breaking in upon me in this disagreeable propriety with which you repulsed my addresses manner be what they may, I don't see that I am this morning, that you intend the present inter-less annoyed by my friends than my enemy. I view should make me still more deeply sensible must therefore again request, that you will all of my presumption.I never lied so aukward- walk down stairs. ly in all my life. If it was to make her comply, I should be at no loss for language. [Aside.] The situation in which I must appear before you, madam, is certainly a very humiliating one; but I am persuaded that your generosity will be gratified to hear, that I have bid an everlasting adieu to my profligacies, and am now only alive to the virtues of Mrs Belville.—She won't speak -I don't wonder at it; for, brazen as I am my Capt. Sav. I'll first walk into this room. Gen. Sav. What frenzy possesses the fellow to urge this matter farther? Capt. Sav. While there's a single doubt, she triumphs over justice.-[Drawing.]--I will go into that room. me. Bel. Then you must make your way through Enter the LADY masked. Mask. Ah! Capt Sav. There! I knew she was in the room: -there's the blue domino. Gen. Sav. Put up your sword, if you don't desire to be cashiered from my favour for ever. Bel. Why would you come out, madam? But you have nothing to apprehend. Capt. Sav. Pray, madam, will you have the goodness to unmask? Bel. She sha'n't unmask. Bel. I say, she shall not. Mask. Pray, let me oblige the gentleman? Capt. Sav. Death and destruction, here's a discovery! Gen. Sav. and Tor. Mrs Belville! Mrs Bel. Yes, Mrs Belville, gentlemen: Is conjugal fidelity so very terrible a thing now-adays, that a man is to suffer death for being found in company with his own wife! Bel. My love, this is a surprise indeed-but it is a most agreeable one; since you find me really ashamed of my former follies, and cannot now doubt the sincerity of my reformation. Mrs Bel. I am too happy! This single moment would overpay a whole life of anxiety. Bel. Where shall I attend you? Will you return to the masquerade? Mrs Bel. O no!-Lady Rachel and Miss Walsingham are by this time at our house, with Mr Leeson and the Irish gentleman, whom you pressed into our party, impatiently expecting the result of this adventure. Bel. Give me leave to conduct you home, then, from this scene of confusion. To-morrow, captain Savage, I shall beg the favour of your explanation. [Aside to him as he goes out.] Kind gentlemen, your most humble servant. Tor. Take care of a new error in your proceedings, young gentleman. Gen. Sav. Ay, another defeat would make us completely despicable. Capt. Sav. Sir, I'll forfeit my life, if she does Tor. The captain should be informed, I think, general, that she declined it peremptorily this evening. Gen. Sav. Ay, do you hear that, Horace? Capt. Sav. I am not at all surprised at it, considering the general misconception we laboured under. But I'll immediately to Belville's, explain the whole mystery, and conclude every thing to your satisfaction. [Exit. Gen. Sav. So, Torrington, we shall be able to take the field again, you see. Tor. But how, in the name of wonder, has your son found out your intention of marrying Miss Walsingham? I looked upon myself as the only person acquainted with the secret. Gen. Sav. That thought has marched itself two or three times to my own recollection. For though I gave him some distant hints of the affair, I took particular care to keep behind the works of a proper circumspection. Tor, O, if you gave him any hints at all, I am not surprised at his discovering every thing. Gen. Sav. I shall be all impatience till I hear of his interview with Miss Walsingham. Suppose, my dear friend, we went to Belville's? 'tis but in the next street, and we shall be there in the lighting of a match. Tor. Really, this is a pretty business for a man of my age and profession-trot here, trot there. But, as I have been weak enough to make myself a kind of party in the cause, I own that I have curiosity enough to be anxious about the deterGen. Sav. Come along, my old boy; and remember the song. Servile spirits,' &c. Mrs Bel. And when you next disturb a tete-a-mination. tete, for pity to a poor wife, don't let it be so very uncustomary a party as a matrimonial one. [Exeunt BELVILLE and MRS Belville. Gen. Sav. [To CAPTAIN SAVAGE.] So, sir, you have led us upon a blessed expedition here! Tor. Now, don't you think that if your courts of honour, like our courts of law, searched a little minutely into evidence, it would be equally to the credit of their understandings? Capt. Sav. Though I am covered with confusion at my mistake (for you see Belville was mastaken as well as myself) I am overjoyed at this discovery of Miss Walsingham's innocence. Gen. Sav. I should exult in it too, with a feu de joie, if it don't now shew the impossibility of her ever being Mrs Savage. Capt. Sav. Dear sir, why should you think that an impossibility? Though some mistakes have occured, in consequence, I suppose, of Mrs Belville's little plot upon her husband, I dare say Miss Walsingham may yet be prevailed upon to come into our family. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. Changes to BELVILLE'S. Enter CAPTAIN SAVAGE and MISS WAL SINGHAM. Capt. Sav. Nay, but, my dearest Miss Walsingham, the extenuation of my own conduct to Belville made it absolutely necessary for me to discover my engagements with you; and, as happiness is now so fortunately in our reach, I flatter myself you will be prevailed upon to forgive an error, which proceeded only from an extravagancy of love. Miss Wal. To think me capable of such an action, captain Savage! I am terrified at the idea of a union with you; and it is better for a woman, at any time, to sacrifice an insolent lover, than to accept of a suspicious husband. Capt. Sav. In the happiest unious, my dearest creature, there must be always something to overlook on both sides. Miss Wal. Very civil, truly! Capt. Sav. Pardon me, my life, for this frankness and recollect, that if the lover has, through misconception, been unhappily guilty, he brings a husband altogether reformed to your hands. Miss Wal. Well, I see I must forgive you at last; so I may as well make merit of necessity, you provoking creature. Capt. Sav. And may I hope, indeed, for the blessing of this hand? Miss Wal. Why, you wretch, would you have me force it upon you? I think, after what I have said, a soldier might have ventured to take it, without further ceremony. Capt. Sav. Angelic creature! thus I seize it, as my lawful prize. Miss Wal. Well, but now you have obtained this inestimable prize, captain, give me again leave to ask, if you have had a certain explanation with the general? Capt. Sav. How can you doubt it? Miss Wal. And he is really impatient for our marriage? Capt. Sav. 'Tis incredible how earnest he is. Miss Wal. What, did he tell you of his interview with me this evening, when he brought Mr Torrington? Capt. Sav. He did. Miss Wal. O, then I can have no doubt. Capt. Sav. If a shadow of doubt remains, here he comes to remove it. Joy! my dear sir! joy a thousand times! Enter GENERAL SAVAGE and TORRINGTON. Gen. Sav. What, my dear boy, have you carried the day? Miss Wal. I have been weak enough to indulge him with a victory, indeed, general. Gen. Sav. [Singing.] None but the brave, none but the brave, &c. Tor. I congratulate you heartily on this decree, general. Gen. Sav. This had nearly proved a day of disappointment; but the stars have fortunately turned it in my favour, and now I reap the rich reward of my victory. [Salutes her. Capt. Suv. And here I take her from you, as the greatest good which Heaven can send me. Miss Wal. O, captain! Gen. Sav. You take her as the greatest good which Heaven can send you, sirrah! I take her as the greatest good which Heaven can send me ! And now, what have you to say to her? Miss Wal. General Savage! Tor. Here will be a fresh injunction to stop proceedings. Miss Wal. Are you never to have done with mistakes? ed. Mrs Bel. What's the matter? Lady Rach. The general appears disconcert Lee. The gentleman looks as if he had fought a hard battle. Con. Ay, and gained nothing but a defeat, my dear. Tor. I'll shew cause for his behaviour. Gen. Sav. Death and damnation! not for the world! I am taken by surprise here; let me consider a moment how to cut my way through the enemy. Miss Wal. How could you be deceived in this manner? [To the CAPT. Lady Rach. O, Mr Torrington! we are much obliged to you; you have been in town ever since last night, and only see us now by accident. Tor. I have been very busy, madam; but you look sadly, very sadly, indeed! your old disorder the jaundice, I suppose, has been very troublesome to you? Lady Rach. Sir, you have a very extraordinary mode of complimenting your acquaintance. Con. I don't believe, for all that, that there's a word of a lie in the truth he speaks. [Aside. Lee. Mr Torrington, your most obedientYou received my letter, I hope? Tor. What, my young barrister! Have you any more traders from Dantzick to be naturalized? Con. Let us only speak to you in private; and |