La Fleur. I will,-and by holding this wand, in which is a magnet, in a particular position, I will so direct the Auid, that it shall immediately give you the most excruciating rheumatism, which will last you a couple of hours. I will then change it to the gout then to strong convulsions and after into a raging fever; and in this manner shall your curiosity become satisfied.

[Holds up his wand as if to magnetise. Doc. Hold, Doctor, I had rather see the experiment on some one else.

La Fleur. Oh then, sir, I have now at my house a patient, whom the faculty have just given up as incurable; and notwithstanding his disorder is of a most violent and dangerous kiud, I will have him brought here, and I will teach you to perform his cure yourself.

Doc. By the power of magnetism?

La Fleur. By the power of magnetism.

Doc. That would do me infinite honor indeed-but why bring him to my house-pray, who is he?

La Fleur. A young man of quality.

| Constance crosses, R. C. Con. (R. c.) Dear, sir, let him be brought hither, and let me see the cure performed.

Doc. [Takes La Fleur aside.] I can't say I approve of a young man being brought into my house-for you must know, Doctor-that young lady is to be my wife :—as we are not exactly of an age, another may make an impression.

La Fleur. Consider my patient's state of health; he is like a dying man.

Doc. But he'll be well after I have cured him.

La Fleur. Very true. [Doctor whispers La Fleur.] True -certainly it is. [They whisper again. Con. Why this whispering? I am ignorant what are the virtues of your art, Doctor, but I am sure it has not that of rendering you polite.

La Fleur. Pardon, madam-I was but instructing the Doctor in some particulars of which you may hereafter have reason to be satisfied.

Lis. I doubt that, sir, unless your art could render this solitary confinement we are doomed to, agreeable.

La Fleur. Before the end of the day, you shall prefer it to all the false pleasures of the gay world; for what are more false than the pleasures derived from balls, masquerades, and theatres ?

Doc. Very true.

Lis. Well, I must own I love a theatre.

La Fleur. The worst place of all, to frequent once in my life, I was present at a theatrical representation; but such a piece did I see,-ah! the most dangerous for a young woman to be present at.

Lis. [Eagerly crossing, R.] Pray, sir, what was it?

La Fleur. An honest gentleman, of about seventy years of age, was before the audience in love with a young lady of eighteen, whom he had brought up from her infancy, and whom he meant to make his wife.

Doc. Very natural.

La Fleur. A young gentleman of the neighbourhood, because he was young, rich, and handsome, imagined he would suit the lady better.

Doc. Just like them all.

La Fleur. He therefore disguised his valet, who, under the mask of friendship, introduced himself to this good man, the guardian.

Doc. A villain! he deserved to be hanged.

La Fleur. And seized the moment when he embraced him as I now embrace you to stretch out his hand, while it was behind him, and convey a letter to the lady's waiting maid. [La Fleur embraces the Doctor, and exchanges letters with Lisette; Lisette gives the letter she receives to Constance; La Fleur puts the other into his pocket.]

Lis. And she gave him another.-I have seen the play myself; and it was very well acted. [She retires up, R. La Fleur. And is it not scandalous to put such examples before young people?

Con. And pray, Doctor, do you think I am not under sufficient confinement, that you take the same methods to make me still more unhappy.

La Fleur. [To the Doctor.] Why does your ward dislike confinement ?

Doc. Because she dislikes me.

La Fleur. Are you sure of that?

Doc. Yes, I think I am.

Con. I am dying with curiosity to read my letter.

[Aside, and exit, R. La Fleur. This wand shall cause in her sentiments the very reverse. In this is a magnet which shall change her disposition. Take it, [Gives the wand.] and, while you keep it, she will be constrained to love you with the most ardent passion.

Doc. I thank you a thousand times.

Lis. Excellent.

Doc. Her maid has overheard us.

[Quite in rapture. [Exit, R.

La Fleur. No, no; but take me into another apartment, and I will explain to you what, at present, you are not able to comprehend-after which, you will permit me to step home, and fetch my patient hither.

Doc. Certainly-when I am in possession of my ward's affection, I can have nothing to apprehend from him.And you are sure she will now become favourable to me? You are sure I shall attract her?

La Fleur. Yes, sure-by the loadstone.

END OF THE FIRST ACT.

[Exit, R.

ACT II.

SCENE I.-Another apartment in the Doctor's House.-A Table and Chair, I.. Couch, c. and Table, with a Medicine Chest, Bottle of Water, and Glass upon it, R.

Enter LISETTE and CONSTANCE, r.

Lis. I overheard it all-and he has given your guardian the wand in which you heard him say the magnet was contained and while he keeps it, it is to magnetise you, and force you to love him, in spite of yourself.

Con. All this agrees with the letter he has given me from his master, in which the Marquis informs me, by what accident that letter, my guardian sent to the Doctor who professes magnetism, fell into his hands, and immediately gave him the idea of disguising his valet, and sending him hither under the name of that Doctor ;-but where is La Fleur now?

Lis. Just left your guardian, and gone home to bring the patient you heard him speak of--and I would lay a wager, that very patient is no other than the Marquis himself. Con. But for what end is all this?

Lis. That they have planned, you may depend upon it.— For the present, you have nothing to do but to pretend an affection for your guardian.

Con. It will be difficult to feign a passion my heart revolts at.

Lis. Never fear your good acting!-Besides, I will take an equal share in it.

Con. How? you!

Lis. I'll fall in love with the Doctor as well as you. If the magnetism affects you, why not have the same power over me? and if it makes you love him, it shall make me adore him.

Con. Hush! here he comes.

[They retire up stage.

Enter DOCTOR, with the wand, L.

Doc. [Crossing L. Aside.] What he has told seems so very surprising, that nothing but proofs can thoroughly convince me and now for the proof! [Looks at Constance.]

Lis. [Aside to Constance.] He ogles you, cast a tender look, and accompany it with a sigh.

Con. [Sighing.] Alas!

[Coming down, R. Doc. My dear Constance, my lovely ward,-what, what makes you sigh? Weariness of your confinement, I suppose?,

Con. Ah, sir!

[Sighing. Doc. Come, come, I confess, the restraint you have been under has been too much, and I am not surprised you have taken a dislike to me.

Con. A dislike to you? Ah! sir! [Sighing.] Oh, guardian! [Going to speak, turns away and hides her face. Doc. [Aside.] I believe it will do. Come, come, Constance, do not sigh and make yourself uneasy; you shall not live many weeks thus retired, for I am thinking of marrying you very soon [Turns eagerly to him.] to a fine young gentleman. [Turns away from him. [Near crying. Doc. What did you say? If I have the good fortune to be beloved by you, let me have the happiness to hear it from yourself?

Con. Ah, cruel!

Con. Yes, cruel man!-some invincible power compels me, in spite of my resistance!-Yes, I love you.

Lis. And I adore you!

[Coming down, L. Doc. [Starting.] What! you too? I did not expect that! Lis. No, mine is not merely a love, but a rage—a violence I doat to distraction-love you to the loss of my health, of spirits, of rest and life.

Con. If you do not take pity on the passion which burns in my heart!— [With tenderness.

Lis. If you can be regardless of the flames which consume me with violence

Con. Can you be insensible of my tender pleadings? Lis. Take care how you turn my affection to hatred. Doc. [Goes from between them. Aside.] What a terrible situation I have got myself into!-the effect of the magnetism is very natural; it acts upon one as well as another; but Lisette's love is very troublesome. I'll call Jeffrey in, and give up part of my power to him; he will take the wand for a few minutes, and charm Lisette.

Con. Why do you thus run from me? Is this the return my love demands ?-But be not uneasy; death shall deliver you from an object, whose passion you despise.

[Turns from him and crosses, R. Doc. (c.) Oh, that you could but read what is written in my heart!

Lis. [L.] Ah, sir, behold the state [Kneels.] to which you have reduced a poor inuocent. If I am treated with kindness, I am naturally soft, gentle, and tender; but, if I am neglected [Rising.] — by all that's great and precious, [ will do some strange thing either to you, or my rival.

Doc. This Lisette is so furious, she makes me tremble I must put an end to her affection.-Jeffrey !

Enter JEFFREY, L.

Jef. Here, sir; what do you want with me?

Doc. Take this and carry it to my study. [Gives the wand.1

Jef. Yes, sir-directly.

[Crosses, R,

Doc. Stop a moment, Jeffrey; stop a moment.

Jef. Two or three moments, if you please.

Doc. Aside.] Now we shall see what effect it has. Lis. [To Constance.] I see through this design; let us fall in love with Jeffrey.

Con. With all my heart.

Doc. Well, Jeffrey-and-and how do you do, Jeffrey? Jef. Pretty well, considering my leg, where the dog bit me, and considering I can only see with one eye.

Lis. But even that misfortune does not prevent your looking very agreeable, Jeffrey.

Doc. [Aside.] It succeeds; she is taken.

Jef. What! Are you beginning to laugh at me again? Lis. Laugh at you! No, Jeffrey. I now wonder how it was possible I should ever laugh at you; how becoming is that bandage-And the eye we do see has a thousand