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LOFTY.

Delicate creature! your commands could even controul a debate at midnight: to a power so constitutional, I am all obedience and tranquility. He shall have a letter; where is my secretary! Dubardieu! And yet, I protest I don't like this way of doing business. I think if I spoke first to Sir William -But will have it so. you

[Exit with Miss RICHLAND.

Sir WILLIAM alone.

Ha, ha, ha! This too is one of my nephew's hopeful associates. Ovanity, thou constant deceiver, how do all thy efforts to exalt, serve but to sink us! Thy false colourings, like those employed to heighten beauty, only seem to mend that bloom which they contribute to destroy. I'm not displeased at this interview : exposing this fellow's impudence to the contempt it deserves, may be of use to my design; at least, if he can reflect, it will be of use to himself.

Enter JARVIS.

Sir WILLIAM.

How now, Jarvis, where's your master, my ne

phew?

JARVIS.

JARVIS.

At his wit's ends, I believe: he's scarce gotten out of one scrape, but he's running his head into another.

How so?

Sir WILLIAM.

JARVIS.

The house has but just been cleared of the bailiffs, and now he's again engaging tooth and nail in assisting old Croaker's son to patch up a clandestine match with the young lady that passes in the house for his

sister.

Sir WILLIAM.

Ever busy to serve others.

JARVIS.

Aye, any body but himself. The young couple, it seems, are just setting out for Scotland; and he supplies them with money for the journey.

Sir WILLIAM.

Money! how is he able to supply others, who has scarce any for himself?

JARVIS.

Why, there it is: he has, no money, that's true; but then, as he never said no to any request in his

life, he has given them a bill, drawn by a friend of his upon a merchant in the city, which I am to get changed; for you must know that I am to go with them to Scotland myself.

Sir WILLIAM.

How!

JARVIS.

It seems the young gentleman is obliged to take a different road from his mistress, as he is to call upon an uncle of his that lives out of the way, in order to prepare a place for their reception, when they return; so they have borrowed me from my master, as the properest person to attend the young lady down.

Sir WILLIAM.

To the land of matrimony! A pleasant journey, Jarvis.

JARVIS.

Ay, but I'm only to have all the fatigues on't.

Sir WILLIAM.

Well, it may be shorter, and less fatiguing, than you imagine. I know but too much of the young lady's family and connections, whom I have seen abroad. 1 have also discovered that Miss Richland

is not indifferent to my thoughtless nephew; and will endeavour, though I fear, in vain, to establish that connection. But, come, the letter I wait for must be almost finished; I'll let you farther into my intentions, in the next room.

[Exeunt.

ACT

ACT THE FOURTH.

SCENE, CROAKER'S House.

LOFTY.

WELL, sure the devil's in me of late, for running my head into such defiles, as nothing but a genius like my own could draw me from. I was formerly contented to husband out my places and pensions with some degree of frugality; but, curse it, of late I have given away the whole Court Register in less time than they could print the title page: yet, hang it, why scruple a lie or two to come at a fine girl, when I every day tell a thousand for nothing. Ha! Honeywood here before me. Could Miss Richland have set him liberty?

Enter HONEYWOOD.

in

Mr. Honeywood, I'm glad to see you abroad again. I find my concurrence was not necessary your unfortunate affairs. I had put things in a train to do your business; but it is not for me to say what I intended doing.

HONEY

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