daughter; upon which (says he) the old put (meaning you again, sir,) will be so bamboozled, that

D. Man. But pray, sir, how did young Mr. Coxcomb conclude that the old put was to believe all this? Had they no sham proofs that they proposed to bamboozle me with, as you call it ?

Trap. You shall hear, sir; (the plot was pretty well laid too) I'll pretend, says he, that the rascal, your rival, (meaning you then, sir,) has robbed me of my portmanteau, where I had put up all my jewels, money, and letters of recommendation from my father: we are neither of us known in Madrid, says he, so that a little impudence and a grave face will certainly set those two dogs a snarling, while you run away with the bone. That's all, sir.

D. Man. Impudent rogue !

Hyp. What think ye, sir? Was not this business pretty handsomely laid ?

Flo. Faith, it might have wrought a very ridiculous consequence.

D. Man. Why, truly, if we had not been forearmed by this discovery, for aught I know, Mr. Dog might have ran away with the bone indeed; but, if you please, sir, since these ingenious gentlemen are so pert upon the matter, we'll e'en let them see, that you and I have wit enough to do our business, and e'en clap up the wedding to-morrow morning.

Hyp. Sir, you are too obliging-But will your daughter, think ye, be prevailed with?

F

D. Man. Sir, I'll prepare her this minute-It's pity methinks we released that bully tho'

"Hyp. Not at all, sir; I don't suppose he can have "the impudence to pursue his design; or if he should, -now we know him beforehand.

sir,

"D. Man. Nay, that's true as you say,-but there"fore, methinks, I'd have him come: I love mightily "to laugh in my sleeve at an impudent rogue when "I'm sure he can do me no harm. Udsflesh! if he "comes, the dog sha'n't know whether I believe him "or not-I'll try if the old put can bamboozle him ❝ or no.

"Hyp. Egad, sir, you're in the right on't; knock "him down with his own weapon.

"Trap. And when he's down I have a trick to keep "him so.

66

"Flo. The devil's in it if we don't maul this rascal among us.

"D. Man. A son of a whore-I am sorry we let "him go so soon, faith."

Flo. We might as well have held him a little.

Hyp. Really, sir, upon second thoughts, I wish we had-His excusing the challenge so abruptly, makes me fancy he is in hopes of carrying his point some other wayDid not you observe your daughter's

woman whisper him?

D. Man. Humh!

Flo. They seemed very busy, that's certain.

Hyp. I cann't say about what-but it will be worth

our while to be upon our guard.

D. Man. I am alarmed.

Hyp. Where is your daughter at this time?

D. Man. I think she's pretty safe-but. I'll go make her sure.

Flo. "Twill be no harm to look about ye, sir." Where's her woman?

D. Man. I'll be upon her presently—she shall be searched for intelligence-You'll excuse me, gentlemen.

Hyp. Sir, the occasion presses you.

D. Man. If I find all safe, I'll return immediately, and then, if you please, we'll run over some old stories of my good friend Fernando

Your servant. [Exit. Don Man.

Hyp. Sir, your most humble servant-Trappanti, thou art a rare fellow; thou hast an admirable face, and when thou diest, I'll have thy whole statue cast all in the same metal.

Flo. 'Twere pity the rogue was not bred to the law.

Trap. So 'tis indeed, sir—A man should not praise himself; but if I had been bred to the gown, I dare venture to say I become a lie as well as any man that wears it.

Hyp. Nay, now thou art modest-But, sirrah, we have more work for ye: you must get in with the servants, attack the lady's woman; there, there's ammunition, rogue! [Gives him money.] Now try if you can make a breach into the secrets of the family.

Trap. Ah, sir, I warrant you-I could never yet meet with a woman that was this sort of pistol-proof

-I have known a handful of these do more than a barrel of gunpowder: the French charge all their 'cannon with 'em; the only weapon in the world, sir. I remember my old master's father used to say the best thing in the Greek grammar was -Arguriois lonchasy machou, kai panta crateseis. [Exit Trap.

Hyp. Well, dear Flora, let me kiss thee: thou hast done thy part to a miracle.

Flo. Egad, I think so: didn't I bear up briskly? Now if Don Philip should come while my blood's up, let him look to himself.

Hyp. We shall find him a little tough, I believe: for, poor gentleman! he is like to meet with a very odd reception from his father-in-law.

Flo. Nay, we have done his business there, I believe. Hyp. How glibly the old gentleman swallowed Trappanti's lie!

Flo. And how rarely the rogue told it 1

Hyp. And how soon it worked with him! for if you please, says he, we'll let him see that we have wit enough to do our business, and clap up the wedding to-morrow morning.

Flo. Ah, we have it all the way-Well, what must we do next.

Hyp. Why, now for the lady-I'll be a little brisk upon her, and then

Flo. Victoria!

[Exeunt.

ACT III. SCENE 1.

Continued. Enter VILETTA hastily, DON MANUEL and TRAPPANTI behind observing her.

Viletta.

So, with much ado I have given the old don the slip; he has dangled with me through every room in the house, high and low, up stairs and down, as close to my tail as a great boy hankering after one of his mother's maids. Well-now we will see what Monsieur Octavio says. [Takes a letter from her bosom.

Trap. Hist! there she is, and alone. When the devil has any thing to do with a woman, sir, that's his time to take her. Stand close.

D. Man. Ah, he's at work already-There's a letter.

Trap. Leave her to me, sir, I'll read it.

Vil. Hah, two pistoles !-Well, I'll say that for him, the man knows his business; his letters always come post-paid.

[While she is reading, Trappanti steals behind, and looks over her shoulder.]

Dear Viletta, convey the enclosed immediately to · your mistress, and as you prize my life, use all pos'sible means to keep the old gentleman from the closet till you are sure she is safe out of the window. Your real friend.'

Trap. Octavio!

[Reading,