her, if, in the fact you are charged with, she is a principal witness against you. However, you have one, and only one chance to get off with. Marry her this instant -and you take off her evidence.

Count B. Dear sir!

Manly. No words, sir; a wife or a mittimus.

Count B. Lord, sir! this is the most unmerciful mercy? Manly. A private penance, or a public one-Constable ! Count B. Hold, sir; since you are pleased to give me my choice, I will not make so ill a compliment to the lady, as not to give her the preference.

Manly. It must be done this minute, sir; the chaplain you expected is still within call.

Myr. (L.) Come, sir, don't repine; marriage is at worst but playing upon the square.

Count B. Ay, but the worst of the match, too, is the devil.

Manly. Well, sir, to let you see it is not so bad as you think it, as a reward for her honesty, in detecting your practices, instead of the forged bill you would have put upon her, there's a real one of five hundred pounds, to begin a new honey-moon with.

[Gives it to Myrtilla.

Count B. Sir, this is so generous an act

Manly. No compliments, dear sir-I am not at leisure now to receive them. Mr. Constable, will you be so good as to wait upon this gentleman into the next room, and give this lady in marriage to him? [Exit, L. Const. Sir, I'll do it faithfully.

Count B. Well, five hundred will serve to make a handsome push with, however. And I am not the first of the fraternity who has run his head into one noose to keep it out of another.-Come, spouse.

Myr. Yes, my life.

[Exeunt Myrtilla, Count, and Constable, L. Sir Fran. And that I may be sure my family's rid of him for ever-Come, my lady, let's even take our children along with us, and be all witness of the ceremony. [Exeunt, L.

SCENE II.-A Dressing-Room.

LADY TOWNLY discovered as just up, sitting at her dressing-table back of c., MRS. TRUSTY waiting.

Mrs. T. [L. of Lady T.] Dear madam, what should make your ladyship so ill?

Lady T. How is it possible to be well, where one is killed for want of sleep?

Mrs. T. Dear me! it was so long before you rung! Madam, I was in hopes your ladyship had been finely composed.

Lady T. Composed! why, I have lain in an inn here; this house is worse than an inn with ten stage-coaches: what between my lord's impertinent people of business in a morning, and the intolerable thick shoes of footmen at noon, one has not a wink all night.

Mrs. T. Indeed, madam, it is a great pity my lord can't be persuaded into the hours of people of qualitythough I must say that, madam, your ladyship is certainly the best matrimonial manager in town.

Lady T. Oh, you are quite mistaken, Trusty! I manage very ill; for, notwithstanding all the power I have, by never being over fond of my lord-yet I want money infinitely oftener than he is willing to give it me.

Mrs. T. Ah! if his lordship could but be brought to play himself, madam, then he might feel what it is to want money.

Lady T. Oh, don't talk of it! do you know that I am undone, Trusty?

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Mrs. T. Mercy forbid, madam?

Lady T. Broke, ruined, plundered!-stripped, even to a confiscation of my last guinea!

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Mrs. T. You don't tell me so, madam !

Lady T. And where to raise ten pound in the world -What is to be done, Trusty?

Mrs. T. Truly, I wish I were wise enough to tell you, madam: but may be your ladyship may have a run of better fortune upon some of the good company that comes here to-night.

Lady T. But I have not a single guinea to try my fortune.

Mrs. T. Ha! that's a bad business indeed, madamAdad, I have a thought in my head, madam, if it is not

too late

Lady T. Out with it quickly, then, I beseech thee.

Mrs. T. Has not the steward something of fifty pounds, madam, that you left in his hands to pay somebody about this time.

Ludy T. Oh, ay; I had forgot-'twas to a-what's his filthy name?

Mrs. T. Now I remember, madam, 'twas to Mr. Lutestring, your old mercer, that your ladyship turned

off about a year ago, because he would trust you no longer.

Lady T. The very wretch! If he has not paid it, run quickly, dear Trusty, and bid him bring it hither immediately. [Exit Trusty, L. D.] Well, sure mortal woman never had such fortune! five, five and nine against poor seven, for ever! No, after that horrid bar of my chancethat Lady Wronghead's fatal red fist upon the table, I saw it was impossible ever to win another stake-Sit up all night-lose all one's money-dream of winning thousands -wake without a shilling! and then [Looking amazed in her glass.]- -How like a hag I look! in short, the pleasures of life are not worth this disorder. If it were not for shame, now, I could almost think Lady Grace's sober scheme not quite so ridiculous—If my wise lord could but hold his tongue for a week, 'tis odds but I should hate the town in a fortnight-But I will not be driven out of it, that's positive.

Enter MRS. TRUSTY, L. D.

Mrs. T. (L.) Oh, madam, there's no bearing of it! Mr. Lutestring was just let in at the door, as I came to the stair foot; and the steward is now actually paying him the money in the hall.

Lady T. Run to the staircase head again—and scream to him, that I must speak with him this instant.

[Mrs. Trusty runs out and speaks. Mrs. T. [Without, L.] Mr. Poundage! a hem! Mr. Poundage, a word with you quickly!

Pound. [Without, L.] I'll come to you presently.

Mrs. T. [Without.] Presently won't do, man; you must come this minute.

Pound. [Without.] I am but just paying a little money here.

Mrs. T. [Without.] Odds my life, paying money! Is the man distracted? Come here, I tell you, to my lady, this moment-quick!

Enter MRS. TRUSTY, L. D.

Lady T. Will the monster come, or no?

Mrs. T. Yes, I hear him now, madam; he is hobbling up as fast as he can.

Lady T. Don't let him come in-for he will keep such a babbling about his accounts3-my brain is not able to

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bear him. [Poundage comes to the door, with a money-bag in his hand.

Mrs. T. Oh, it's well you are come! where's the fifty pounds!

Pound. Why, here it is; if you had not been in such haste, I should have paid it by this time-the man's now writing a receipt below for it.

Mrs. T. No matter; my lady says you must not pay him with that money; there's not enough, it seems— there's a guinea that is not good in it-besides, there is a mistake in the account too-[Twitching the bag from him.] But she is not at leisure to examine it now; so you must bid Mr. What-d'ye-call-um call another time. Lady T. What is all that noise there?

[Noise L. without. Pound. Why, an it please your ladyshipLady T. Pr'ythee, don't plague me now; but do as you were ordered.

Pound. Nay, what your ladyship pleases, madam.

[Exit, L. D.

Mrs. T. There they are, madam-[Pours the money out of the bag.]-The pretty things were so near falling into a nasty tradesman's hands, I protest it made me tremble for them!-I fancy your ladyship had as good give me that bad guinea, for luck's sake-Thank you, ma'am. [Takes a guinea. Lady T. Why, I did not bid you take it. Mrs. T. No; but your ladyship looked as if you were just going to bid me; and so I was willing to save you the trouble of speaking, madam.

Lady T. Well, thou hast deserved it; and so, for once but hark! don't I hear the man making a noise yonder? Though, I think, we may compound for a little of his illhumour.

Mrs. T. I'll listen.

Lady T. Pr'ythee do.

[Mrs. Trusty goes to L. D. Pound. [Without.] Well, but Mr. LutestringLute. [Without.] I tell you, I insist

Pound. [Without.] Well, but can't you call next week, Mr. Lutestring.

Lute. [Without.] I'll be made a fool of no longer, Mr. Poundage; and if you don't pay me my money

Pound. [Without.] Bless my soul, Mr. Lutestring, sure you won't

Lute. [Without.] Indeed, but I will though! I won't

swear, but, if I leave this house without my money, I'll be damned, that's all.

Mrs. T. Ay, they are at it, madam-he's in a bitter passion with poor Poundage-Bless me! I believe he'll beat him-Mercy on us, how the wretch swears!

Lady T. And a sober citizen, too! that's a shame. Mrs. T. Ha! I think all's silent of a sudden-may be the porter has knocked him down-I'll step and see. [Exit, L. D. Lady T. These tradespeople are the troublesomest creatures! No words will satisfy them!

Enter MRS. TRUSTY, L. D.

Mrs. T. Oh, madam! undone-undone! My lord has just bolted out upon the man, and is hearing all his pitiful story over. If your ladyship pleases to come hither, you may hear him yourself.

Lady T. No matter: it will come round presently: I shall have it from my lord, without losing a word by the way, I'll warrant you.

Mrs. T. Oh, lud, inadam! here's my lord just coming in.

Lady T. Do you get out of the way, then. [Exit Mrs. Trusty, L. S. E.] I am afraid I want spirits; but he will soon give them me.

Enter LORD TOWNLY, L. D., and sits R. of table.

Lord T. How comes it, madam, that a tradesman dares be clamorous in my house for money due to him from you?

Lady T. You don't expect, my lord, that I should answer for other people's impertinence?

Lord T. I expect, madam, you should answer for your own extravagancies, that are the occasion of it: I thought I had given you money three months ago to satisfy all these sort of people.

Lady T. Yes; but you see they never are to be satisfied.

Lord T. Nor am I, madam, longer to be abused thus -what's become of the last five hundred I gave you? Lady T. Gone.

Lord T. Gone! what way, madam?

Lady T. Half the town over, I believe, by this time. Lord T. 'Tis well; I see ruin will make no impres sion, till it falls upon you.