SCENE II.-Changes to the street. Two chairs | self, if I met so mortifying a rejection, I should cross the stage, knock at a door, and set down BELVILLE and a lady. be cursedly out of countenance. Bel. This way, my dear creature! [Exeunt. sist. Enter GENERAL SAVAGE, CAPTAIN SAVAGE, and Capt. Sav. 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 30 is Belville's. Tor. You would have rare custom among the Newgate solicitors, if you'd venture an oath upon 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 dcmino, masked. 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 friendship. Capt. Sav. Where's Miss Walsingham, sir? Gen. Sav. Dear Belville, he is out of his 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. Well, gentlemen, let your different motives for breaking in upon me in this disagreeable manner be what they may, I don't see that I am less annoyed by my friends than my enemy. I must therefore again request, that you will all walk down stairs. Bel. My dear Miss Walsingham, we are now perfectly safe; yet I will by no means entreat you to unmask, because I am convinced, from the propriety with which you repulsed my addresses this morning, that you intend the present interview should make me still more deeply sensible of my presumption.I never lied so aukwardly 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-me. 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. 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? Tor. Take care of a new error in your proceedings, young gentleman. Gen. Sav. Ay, another defeat would make us completely despicable. Capt. Suv. 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, ex Capt. Sav. Death and destruction, here's a dis-plain the whole mystery, and conclude every covery! 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 meet agreable 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 Rache! and Miss Walsingham are by this time at our house, with Mr Leeson and the Irish gentleman, whom you pressed in our party, impatiently expecting the result of this adventure. Bel. Give me leave to conduct you home, then, from this scene of confusion. 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. Suv. 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 watch. Ter. Really, this is a pretty business for a man To-morrow, cap-of my age and profession-trot here, trot there. tain Savage, I shall beg the favour of your ex- But, as I have beer weak enough te inake myself planation. [Aside to him as he goes out.] Kinda kind of party in the cause, I own that I have gentlemen, your most humble servant. curiosity enough to be anxious about the deter Gen. Sav. Come member the song. Mrs Bel. And when you next dictarb a tete-a-minativa. tete, for pity to a peor wife, don't let it be so very uncustomary a party as a matrimonial one. [Exeunt BELVILLE and MRS PELVILLE. Gen. Sav. [To CAPTAIN SAVAGE.] Co, 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 low, 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 Pelville 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. SCENE IV.-Changes to DELVILLE's. Enter CAPTAIN SAVAGE and MISS WAL SINGHAM. Capt. Sav. Nay, but, my dearest Miss Walsingham, the extenuation of tay 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 unions, 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. Sav. And here I take her from you, as the greatest good which Heaven can send me. Miss Wal. O, captain! Gen. Suv. 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 trouble some to you? Lady Rach. Sir, you have a very extraordina ry 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 we'll there clear up the affair before the whole company. Tor. [Speaking apart to LEESON and CoN.] This gentleman's letter has already cleared it up to my entire satisfaction; and I don't know whether I am most pleased with his wit, or charmed with his probity. However, Mr Leeson, I used the bailiffs sadly. Bailiffs are generally sad fellows to be sure; but we must love justice for our own sakes. Lee. Unquestionably, sir; and they shall be amply recompensed for the merit of their sufferings. Con. And the merit of suffering, I fancy, is the only merit that is ever likely to fall to the share of a sheriff's officer. Tor. One word-one word more, Mr Leeson. I have inquired your character, and like itlike it much. Forgive the forwardness of an old man. You must not want money-you must not, indeed Lee. Sir Tor. Pray don't be offended-I mean to give my friends but little trouble about my affairs when I am gone. I love to see the people happy that my fortune is to make so; and shall think it a treason against humanity to leave a shilling more than the bare expences of my funeral. Breakfast with me in the morning. Lee. You overwhelm me with this generosity but a happy revolution in my fortunes, which you will soon know, renders it wholly unnecessary for me to trouble you. Con. [Wiping his eyes.] Upon my soul, this is a most worthy old crater-to be his own executor. If I was to live any long time among such people, they would soon be the death of me, with their very goodness. Mrs Bel. Miss Walsingham, captain Savage has been telling Mr Belville and me of a very extraordinary mistake. Miss Wal. 'Tis very strange, indeed; mistake on mistake. Lee. My blessed aunt! O, how proud I am of the relation! Gen. Sav. Dear Bab, give me quarter before all this company. Mrs Tem. You are in love, you old fool, are you? and you want to marry Miss Walsingham, indeed! Con. I never heard a pleasanter spoken gentlewoman- -O honey, if I had the taming of her, she should never be abusive, without keeping a civil tongue in her head. Mrs Tem. Well, sir, and when is the happy day to be fixed? Bel. What the devil, is this true, general? Gen. True-Can you believe such an absurdity? Mrs Tem. Why, will you deny, you miserable old mummy, that you made proposals of marriage to her? Gen. Sav. Yes I do-no, I don't-proposals of marriage! Miss Wal. In favour of your son-I'll help him out a little. [Aside. Gen. Sav. Yes, in favour of my sonwhat the devil shall I do? Mrs Bel. Shall I take a lesson from this lady, Mr Belville? Perhaps, if the women of virtue were to pluck up a little spirit, they might be soon as well treated as kept mistresses. Mrs Temp. Hark'e, general Savage, I believe you assert a falsehood; but if you speak the Bel. Tis no way strange to find every body truth, give your son this moment to Miss Walproperly struck with the merit of Miss Walsing-singham, and let me be fairly rid of my rival. bam. Miss Wal. A compliment from you, now, Mr Belville, is really worth accepting. Gen. Sav. If I thought the affair could be kept a secret, by making the town over to my son, since I am utterly shut out myself Capt. Sav. He seems exceedingly embarrassed. Gen. Sav. If I thought that-why, mortified as I must be in giving it up, I think I could resolve upon the manoeuvre, to save myself from universal ridicule: but it can't be; it can't be; and I only double my own disappointment in rewarding the disobedience of the rascal who has supplanted me. There! there! they are all talking of it, all laughing at me, and I shall run mad. | Gen. Sav. My son! Miss Walsingham! Miss Walsingham, my son! Bel. It will do, Horace; it will do. Mrs Tem. No prevarications, general Savage! Do what I bid you instantly, or, by all the wrongs of an enraged woman, I'll so expose you! Con. What a fine fellow this is to have the command of an army! Gen. Sav. If Miss Walsingham can be prevailed upon———— Tor. O, she'll oblige you readily-but you must settle a good fortune upon your son. Mrs Tem. That he shall do. Mrs Bel. Miss Walsingham, my dearMiss Wal. I can refuse nothing either to your request, or to the request of the general. Gen. Suv. Oblige me with your hand, then, ma Gen. Sav. And without any great credit, I fear, to the general. Con. By my soul, you may say that! Mrs Tem. Do you murmur, sir? Come this moment home with me. Gen. Sav. I'll go any where to hide this miserable head of mine: what a damned campaign have I made of it! [Exeunt GENERAL SAVAGE and MRS TEMPEST. Con. Upon my soul, if I was in the general's place, I would divide the house with this devil; I would keep within doors myself, and make her take the outside. Lady Rach. Here's more food for a comedy. Lee. So there is, madam; and Mr Torrington, to whose goodness I am infinitely obliged, could tell you some diverting anecdotes, that would enrich a comedy considerably. Con. Ay, faith, and a tragedy, too! Tor. I can tell nothing but what will redound to the credit of your character, young man. Bel. The day has been a busy one, thanks to the communicative disposition of the captain. Lirs Bel. And the evening should be cheerful. Bel. I shan't, therefore, part with one of you, till we have had a hearty laugh at our general adventures. Miss Wal. They have been very whimsical, indeed; yet, if represented on the stage, I hope they would be found not only entertaining, but instructive. Lady Rach. Instructive! why the modern criзаў, that the only business of comedy is to make people laugh. Bel. That is degrad ag the dignity of letters exceedingly, as well as lessening the utility of the stage. A good comery is a capital effort of genins, and should, therefore, be directed to the noblest proses. Miss Wal. Very true; and unless we learn something while we chuckle, the carpenter, who nails a pantomime together, will be entitled to more applause, than the best comic poet in the kingdom, [Exeunt omnes |