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billet-doux in my hand for you, that will set you right presently.

Count B. What the devil's the meaning of all this?

Const. Only my Lord Chief Justice's warrant against you, for forgery, sir.

Count B. Blood and thunder!

Const. And so, sir, if you please to pull off your fool's frock there, I'll wait upon you to the next justice of peace immediately. [SIR FRANCIS and MANLY advance.

Jenny, Oh, dear me, what's the matter? [Trembling. Count B. Oh, nothing, only a masquerading frolic, my dear.

'Squire R. Oh, ho, is that all!

Sir Fran. No, sirrah! that is not all.

[SIR FRANCIS Coming softly behind the 'SQUIRE, knocks him down with his cane.

'Squire R. Oh, lawd! Oh, lawd! he has beaten my brains out.

Manly, Hold, hold, Sir Francis, have a little mercy upon my poor godson, pray, sir..

Sir Fran. Wounds, cousin, I ha'n't patience.

Count B. Manly! way then I'm blown to the devil!

'Squire R. Oh, my head! my head!

[Aside.

Enter LADY WRONGHEAD, dressed as a Shepherdess. Lady W. What's the matter here, gentlemen? For Heaven's sake! What, are you murdering my children?

Const. No, no, madam; no murder; only a little suspicion of felony, that's all.

Sir Fran. [To JENNY.] And for you, Mrs. Hotupon't, I could find in my heart to make you wear that habit as long as you live, you jade you. Do you know, hussy, that you were within two minutes of marrying a pickpocket?

Count B. So, so, all's out I find? [Aside. Jenny. Oh, the mercy! why, pray, papa, is not the Count a man of quality then?

Sir Fran. Oh, yes, one of the unhanged ones, it

seems.

Lady W. [Aside.] Married! Oh, the confident thing! There was his urgent business then-slighted for her! I ha'n't patience!—and, for ought I know, I have been all this while making a friendship with a highwayman. Manly. Mr. Constable, secure there.

Sir Fran. Ah, my lady! my lady! this comes of your journey to London: but now I'll have a frolic of my own, madam; therefore pack up your trumpery this very night; for the moment my horses are able to crawl, you and your brats shall make a journey into the country again.

Lady W. Indeed, you are mistaken, Sir Francis-I shall not stir out of town yet, I promise you.

Sir Fran. Not stir? Waunds, madam

Manly. Hold, sir!--if you'll give me leave a little --I fancy I shall prevail with my lady to think better on't.

Sir Fran. Ab, cousin, you are a friend indeed!

Manly. [Apart to LADY WRONGHEAD.] Look you, madam; as to the favour you designed me, in sending this spurious letter enclosed to my Lady Grace, all the revenge I have taken, is to have saved your son and daughter from ruin.--Now if you will take them fairly and quietly into the country again, I will save your ladyship from ruin.

Lady W. What do you mean, sir?

Manly. Why, Sir Francis--shall never know what is in this letter; look upon it. How it came into my hands you shall know at leisure.

Lady W. Ha! my billet-doux to the Count! and an appointment in it! I shall sink with confusion! Manly. What shall I say to Sir Francis, madam? Lady W. Dear sir, I am in such a trembling! preserve my honour, and I am all obedience. [Apart to MANLY.

Manly. Sir Francis--my lady is ready to receive your commands for her journey, whenever you please to appoint it.

Sir Fran. Ah, cousin, I doubt I am obliged to you for it.

Manly. Come, come, Sir Francis, take it as you find it. Obedience in a wife is a good thing, though it were never so wonderful !——And now, sir, we have nothing to do but to dispose of this gentleman.

Count B. Mr. Manly; sir, I hope you won't ruin me? Manly. Did not you forge this note for five hundred pounds, sir!

Count B. Sir-I see you know the world, and therefore I shall not pretend to prevaricate-But it has hurt nobody yet, sir; I beg you will not stigmatize me; since you have spoiled my fortune in one family, I hope you won't be so cruel to a young fellow, as to put it out of my power, sir, to make it in another, sir.

Manly. Look you, sir, I have not much time to waste with you but if you expect mercy yourself, you must show it to one you have been cruel to.

Count B. Cruel, sir!

Manly. Have you not ruined this young woman?
Count B. I, sir!

Manly. I know you have therefore you can't blame her, if, in the fact you are charged with, she is a principal witness against you. However, you have one, and only one chance to get off with. Marry her this instant-and you take off her evidence.

Count B. Dear sir!

Manly. No words, sir, a wife, or a mittimus.
Count B.

mercy!

Lord, sir! this is the most unmerciful

Manly. A private penance, or a public one-Constable !

Count B. Hold, sir, since you are pleased to give me

my choice, I will not make so ill a compliment to the lady, as not to give her the preference.

Manly. It must be done this minute, sir; the chaplain you expected is still within call.

Myr. Come, sir, don't repine: marriage is at worst but playing upon the square.

Count B. Ay, but the worst of the match too, is the devil.

Manly. Well, sir, to let you see it is not so bad as you think it; as a reward for her honesty, in detecting your practices, instead of the forged bill you would have put upon her, there's a real one of five hundred pounds, to begin a new honeymoon with. [Gives it to MYRTILLA. Count B. Sir, this is so generous an act

Manly. No compliments, dear sir-I am not at leisure now to receive them. Mr. Constable, will you be so good as to wait upon this gentleman into the next room, and give this lady in marriage to him? [Exit.

Const. Sir, I'll do it faithfully.

Count B. Well, five hundred will serve to make a handsome push with, however. And I am not the first of the fraternity who has run his head into one noose, to keep it out of another-Come, spouse.

Myr. Yes, my life.

[Exeunt MYRTILLA, COUNT, and CONSTABLE. Sir Fran. And that I may be sure my family's rid of him for ever-come, my lady, let's even take our children along with us, and be all witness of the ceremony. [Exeunt.

Scene II.-A Dressing Room.

LADY TOWNLY discovered as just up, MRS. TRUSTY waiting.

Mrs. T. Dear madam, what should make your lady. ship so ill?

Lady T. How is it possible to be well, where one is killed for want of sleep?

Mrs. T. Dear me! it was so long before you rung, madam, I was in hopes your ladyship had been finely composed.

Lady T. Composed! why I have lain in an inn here; this house is worse than an inn with ten stage-coaches: what between my lord's impertinent people of business in a morning, and the intolerable thick shoes of footmen at noon, one has not a wink all night.

Mrs. T. Indeed, madam, it's a great pity my lord can't be persuaded into the hours of people of quality-though I must say that, madam, your ladyship is certainly the best matrimonial manager in town.

Lady T. Oh, you are quite mistaken, Trusty! I manage very ill; for, notwithstanding all the power I have, by never being over fond of my lord-yet I want money infinitely oftener than he is willing to give it

me.

Mrs. T. Ah! if his lordship could but be brought to play himself, madam, then he might feel what it is to want money.

Lady T. Oh, don't talk of it! do you know that I am undone, Trusty?

Mrs. T. Mercy forbid, madam!

Lady T. Broke, ruined, plundered !-stripped, even to a confiscation of my last guinea!

Mrs. T. You don't tell me so, madam!

Lady T. And where to raise ten pound in the world -What is to be done, Trusty?

Mrs. T. Truly, I wish I were wise enough to tell you, madam: but may be your ladyship may have a run of better fortune upon some of the good company that comes here to-night.

Lady T. But I have not a single guinea to try my fortune,

Mrs. T. Ha! that's a bad business indeed, madam

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