you will -Do you of as good quality-But to the purpose, if give me leave to acquaint you with itcarry on the mistake of me: I'll marry 'em— Nay, don't pause ;- -If you do, I'll spoil all.--I have some private reasons for what I do, which I'll tell you within.In the mean time, I promiseand rely upon me-to help your mistress to a husband: nay, and thee too, Lucy-Here 's my hand, I will; with a fresh assurance. [Gives her more money. Lucy. Ah, the devil is not so cunningYou know my easy nature -Well, for once I'll venture to serve you; but if you do deceive me, the curse of all kind, tender-hearted women light upon you. Bell. That's as much as to say, the pox take me.Well, lead on. [Exeunt. Enter VAINLOVE, SHARPER, and SETTER. Sharp. Just now, say you, gone in with Lucy? Set. Isaw him, sir, and stood at the corner where you found me, and overheard all they said: Mr. Bellmour is to marry 'em. Sharp. Ha, ha! 't will be a pleasant cheat-I'll plague Heartwell, when I see him. Pr'ythee, Frank, let's teaze him; make him fret, till he foam at the mouth, and disgorge his matrimonial oath with interest-Come, thou 'rt musty Set: [To Sharp.] Sir, a word with you. [Whispers him, Vain. Sharper swears she has forsworn the letter I'm sure he tells me truth;-but I am not sure she told him truth. Yet she was unaffectedly concerned, he says; and often blush'd with anger and surprise; And so I remember in the Park-She had reason, if I wrong her-I begin to doubt. Sharp. Say'st thou so! Set. This afternoon, sir, about an hour before my master received the letter. Sharp. In my conscience, like enough. Set. Ay, I know her, sir: at least, I'm sure I can fish it out of her: she's the very sluice to her lady's secrets. 'Tis but setting her mill a going, and I can drain her of 'em all. Sharp. Here, Frank, your blood-hound has made out the fault. This letter, that so sticks in thy maw, is counterfeit; only a trick of Silvia, in revenge, contrived by Lucy. Vain. Ha! It has a colour-But how do you know it, sirrah? Set. I do suspect as much;—because why, sir,She was pumping me about how your worship's affairs stood towards Madam Araminta; as, when you had seen her last; when you were to see her next; and, where you were to be found at that time; and such like. Vain. And where did you tell her? Set. In the Piazza. Vain. There I receiv'd the letter -It must be so -And why did you not find me out, to tell me this before, sot? Set. Sir, I was pimping for Mr. Bellmour. Sharp. You were well employed--I think there is no objection to the excuse. Vain. Pox o'my saucy credulity-If I have lost her, I deserve it. But if confession and repentance be of force, I'll win her, or weary her into a forgive[Exit. Sharp. Methinks I long to see Bellmour come forth. ness. Enter BELLMOUR. Set. Talk of the devil-See where he comes. Sharp. Hugging himself in his prosperous mischief -No real fanatic can look better pleas'd, after a successful sermon of sedition. Bell. Sharper, fortify thy spleen such a jest! Speak when thou art ready. Sharp. Now, were I ill-natured, would I utterly disappoint thy mirth: "hear thee tell thy mighty jest, "with as much gravity as a bishop hears venereal "causes in the spiritual court:" not so much as wrinkle my face with one smile; but let thee look simply, and laugh by thyself. Bell. Pshaw, no; I have a better opinion of thy wit -Gad, I defy thee. Sharp. Were it not loss of time, you should make the experiment. But honest Setter, here, overheard you with Lucy, and has told me all. Bell. Nay, then, I thank thee for not putting me out of countenance. But, to tell you something you do n't know- -I got an opportunity, after I had married them, of discovering the cheat to Silvia. She took it, at first, as another woman would the like disappointment; but my promise to make her amends quickly with another husband, somewhat pacified her. Sharp. But how the devil do you think to acquit yourself of your promise? Will you marry her yourself? Bell. I have no such intentions at present Pr'ythee, wilt thou think a little for me? I am sure the ingenious Mr. Setter will assist. Set. O lord, sir! Bell. I'll leave him with you, and go shift my habit. Enter Sir JOSEPH, and BLUFF. [Exit. Sharp. Heh! Sure Fortune has sent this fool hither on purpose. Setter, stand close; seem not to observe them; and, harke'e[Whispers. Bluff. Fear him not-I am prepar'd for him now; and he shall find he might have safer rous'd a sleeping lion. Sir Jos. Hush, hush: don't you see him? Bluff. Shew him to me. -Where is he? Sir Jos. Nay, do n't speak so loud-I don't jest, as I did a little while ago-Look yonderAgad, if he should hear the lion roar, he'd cudgel him into an ass, and his primitive braying. Don't you remember the story in Æsop's Fables, bully? A-gad, there are good morals to be pick'd out of Æsop's Fables, let me tell you that; and Reynard the Fox, too. Bluff. Damn your morals. Sir Jos. Pr'ythee, do n't speak so loud. Bluff. Damn your morals; I must revenge the af front due to my honour. [In a low voice. Sir Jos. Ay, do, do, captain, if you think fitting -you may dispose of your own flesh as you think fitting, d'ye see: but, by the Lord Harry, I'll leave [Stealing away upon his tiptoes. Bluff. Prodigious! What, will you forsake your friend in extremity! You can't in honour refuse to carry him a challenge. you. [Almost whispering, and treading softly after him. Sir Jos. Pr'ythee, what do you see in my face, that looks as if I would carry a challenge? Honour is your province, captain; take it-All the world know me to be a knight, and a man of worship. Set. I warrant you, sir, I'm instructed. Sharp. Impossible! Araminta take a liking to a fool! [Aloud. Set. Her head runs on nothing else, nor she can talk of nothing else. Sharp. I know she commended him all the while we were in the Park; but I thought it had been only to make Vainlove jealous. Good bully, hold your Sir Jos. How's this! breath, and let's hearken. Sharp. Death, it can't be. wittal. -An oaf, an ideot, a Sir Jos. Ay, now it's out; 'tis I, my own indivi |