near an hour, to supplicate this poor simple decrepid fool of the old Doctor's to open me the garden gate for a moment : Jeffrey ! [Calls. Con. The Doctor has lately appointed Jeffrey his apothecary-he is busy preparing of medicines, and will be angry at being disturbed.

Lis. No matter-it may save the life of some of his master's patients.

Enter JEFFREY, L. S. E.; a bandage on his left eye, and one un his right leg.

Jef. [Comes between them.] You made me overthrow the whole decoction.

Lis. Great apothecary!

Con. (R.) And alone worthy the physician under whom you have received instructions.

Jef. I am very sorry I overthrew the decoction, for it was for my use-my leg is in pain still, and I am not yet satisfied the dog was not mad.

Lis. (L.) I tell you, I am sure he was not; and, had you suffered him to live, it would have proved so.

Jef. My master ordered me to kill him.

Lis. Merely to make you believe he was mad, and to show his skill by pretending to preserve you from the infection. Jef. Nay, don't speak against my master.

Lis. Who was it undertook to cure your eyes?

Jef. He; and, thank heaven, Lisette, I shall not suffer any more from that!

Lis. Why, then, do you wear a bandage ?
Jef. To hide the place where it was.

Lis. And is it thus the Doctor cured you?

Jef. He was so kind to put my left eye out, in order to save the right.

Con. Well, still you are more fortunate than the God of Love; for he has no eyes at all—

Jef. And I shall have two, very soon, for my master has promised me to buy me one at the great manufactory, which will be much handsomer than either of my other-a very handsome glass one.

Lis. And if the Doctor will remake you thus, piece by piece, in time, my dear Jeffrey, you may become a very pretty mau :-but you know, Jeffrey, I love you even as you

are.

Jef. Love me that's a good joke-Lisette, I am afraid you want something of me, you speak to me so pleasantly

Lis. Want something of you-how could such an idea enter your head?

Jef. Because, when you don't want something of me,you huff me, and cuff me,-from morning to night, eh, eh! you look no more as you do now. Why, if I was dying, I durst hardly speak to you.

Lis. Well, henceforward you shall have no reason to complain. But do you know, Jeffrey, I have a little favour to ask of you.

Jef. Aye! I thought so

Con. (R.) My dear Jeffrey, we will make you any recom

pence.

Jef. (c.) What is it you want? If I can do it without offending my master, I will.

Lis. (L.) If you don't tell him, he'll never know it—

Jef. But I tell him every thing-he pays me my wages for telling-and I must not take them without earning them.

Con. If money is of such value to you, here, take my purse.

Jef. No; it is not money I want, it is something else. Lis. What, what, then?

Jef. [Looking at Lisette with affection.] Oh! Mrs. Lisette, you know what I want, but you always denied me.

Lis. Pshaw! if I could grant it, indeed, without my master knowing it

Jef. Oh! I won't tell him of that, I protest.

Con. Well, Jeffrey, what is your favour?

Jef. Just one salute of Mrs. Lisette.

Lis. Oh! if that's all, after you have obliged us, you shall have twenty.

Jef. But I had rather have one now, than the twenty you promise after.

Lis. Come then, make haste, if it must be so.

Jef. [After saluting her.] Oh! the first kies of the girl. one loves, is so sweet.

Lis. Now you are ready to comply with our request?
Jef. Tell me what it is?

Lis. To give us the key of the garden gate.

Jef. I am very sorry I can't oblige you.

Lis. Why not?

Jef. For several reasons.

Lis. Tell me one?

Jef. In the first place, I have not got the key--my master took it with him when he went out.

Lis. You know you tell a falsehood: he has not got itis this your bargain and your gratitude?

Jef. Nay, if you are angry at that, give me the kiss again. Lis. Ugly, foolish, yet artful and cunning wretch! leave the room! You make love to me, indeed? Why, I always hated you, laughed at you, and despised you.

Jef. [Crosses, L.] I know that.-Did not I tell you, when you spoke so kindly to me, you wanted something; how then could you expect me to oblige you?

Lis. I shall ever detest the sight of you.

Jef. Unless you want something, and then you'll call me again-and then I shall kiss you again. Ha, ha, ha! [Exit, shewing the key, L.

Lis. I never was so provoked in my life.

Con. My dear Lisette, if our two lovers, the Marquis and his servant, prove no more fortunate in their schemes, than we have been in ours, I fear I must, according to his desire, marry the Doctor-and you Jeffrey.

Lis. I marry Jeffrey !-Here comes the Doctor.

Enter DOCTOR, L.

Doc. (L.) What an indignity!-I can't put up with it-I can't bear it-I'm ready to choak with passion! Con. (R.) Dear sir, what is the matter?

Doc. I am disgraced, ruined, and undone.
Con. And what has caused it, sir?

Doc. A conspiracy of the blackest kind. [Crosses, c.] Man's weakness is arrived to its highest summit; and there is nothing wanting but merit, to draw upon us the most cruel persecution.

Lis. (L.) Ah! I understand-the faculty have been conspiring against you.

Doc. (c.) They have refused to grant me a diploma-forbid me to practise as a physician; and all because I don't know a parcel of insignificant words, but exercise my profession according to the rules of reason and nature. Is it not natural to die? Then, if a dozen or two of my patients have died under my hands, is not that natural ?

Lis. Very natural, indeed.

Doc. But, thank heaven! in spite of the scandalous reports of my enemies, I have this morning nine visits to

make.

Con. Very true, sir: a young ward has sent for you, to attend his guardian-three nephews have sent for you, to attend their uncles, very rich men-aud five husbands have

B

sent for you, in great haste, to attend their wives.

Doc. And is not that a sign they think what I can do? Is it not a sign they have the highest opinion of my skill? And the faculty shall see I will rise superior to their machinations. I have entered upon a project, that, I believe, will teaze them-I have made overtures to one of their professed enemies, a man whom they have crushed, and who is the chief of a sect just sprung up; of which, perhaps, you never heard, for simply, by the power of magnetism, they can cure any ill, or inspire any passion.

Con. Is it possible?

Doc. Yes-aud every effect is produced upon the frame, merely by the power of the magnet, which is held in the hand of the physician, as a wand of a conjuror is held in his; and it produces wonders in physic, equally surprising.

Con. And will you become of this new sect?

Doc. If they will receive me--and by this time the president has, I dare say, received my letter, and I wait impatiently for an answer. [A knock, L.

Enter JEFFREY.

Jef. A Doctor, at the door, desires to speak with you.
Doc. A Doctor in my house?

Lis. I dare say, it is the magnetizing Doctor you have been writing to.

Doc. Very likely—I dare say 'tis Doctor Mystery; shew him in, Jeffrey. [Crosses, L. c.

Jef. Please to walk this way, sir.

[Exit Jeffrey, L.

Enter LA FLEUR, dressed as a Doctor. L.

La Fleur. (L.) Doctor, I hope I have your pardon, that, though no farther acquaintance than by letter, I thus wait upon you to pay my respects.

Con. [To Lisette, R.] It is the same I saw with the Marquis.

Lis. (R. C.) [Aside.] And it is La Fleur, his valet.

La Fleur. And to assure you, that I, and all my brethren, have the highest respect for your talents, and shall be happy to have you a member of our society.

Doc. (L. C.) I presume, sir, you are Doctor Mystery, author and first discoverer of that healing and sublime art, Animal Magnetism.

La Fleur. I am.

Doc. And it will render you immortal-my curiosity

to become acquainted with the forms and effects of your power is scarcely to be repressed a moment. Will you indulge me with the smallest specimen of your art, just to satisfy my curiosity?

La Fleur. You are then entirely ignorant of it?
Doc. Entirely.

La Fleur. And so am I. [Aside.] Hem-hem-you must know, Doctor.

Doc. Shall I send the women out of the room?

La Fleur. By no means-no, no; but I will shew both you and them a specimen of my art directly.-You know, Doctor, there is an universal fluid, which spreads throughout all nature.

Doc. A fluid?

La Fleur. Yes, a fluid-which is-a-fluid-and you know, Doctor, that this fluid-generally called a fluidis the most subtle of all-that is the most subtle. Do you understand me?

Doc. Yes, yes

La Fleur. It ascends on high, [Looking down.] and descends on low, [Looking up.] penetrates all substances, from the hardest metal to the softest bosom-you understand me, I perceive?

Doc. Not very well.

La Fleur. I will give you a simile then.
Doc. I shall be much obliged to you.

La Fleur. This fluid is like a river-You know what a river is ?

Doc. Yes, certainly.

La Fleur. This fluid is like a river, that-that-runsthat-goes-that-gently glides-so-so-so-while there is nothing to stop it—But if it encounters a mound or any other impediment-boo-boo-boo-it bursts forth-it overflows the country round-throws down villages, hamlets, houses, trees, cows, and lambs; but remove obstacles which obstruct its course, and it begins again, softly and sweetly, to flow-thus-thus-thus-the fields are again adorned, and every thing goes on, as well as it can go on. -Thus it is with the animal fluid, which fluid obeys the command of my art.

Doc. Surprising art! but what are the means you employ ?

La Fleur. Merely gestures-or a simple touch.

Doc. Astonishing! give me some proof of your art directly; do satisfy my curiosity.