Lady Henrietta. Yes its feldom a friendship lafts above a year-Is it, Mr. Warford?

Warford. I hope there are inftances, Madam. Lady Henrietta. So do I, Sir-but I am afraid they are fo rare-Heigho! if I don't mind, I fhall catch your fpleen, and be as grave and fentimental as yourself.

Warford. And why not, madam? Why be afham'd of fentiment? 'Tis true it is the mode to ridicule and laugh at it; but I doubt if fashion and all its fopperies, can find a pleasure to fupply its lofs.

Lady Henrietta. Vaftly well! Didn't I tell you, Mifs Dazzle, he could be very pleasant? You really have talents, Mr. Warford; but the worst of them is, they go more to instruction than amufement.

Warford. Then I am fatisfied, Lady Henrietta, and if I could convince you that happinefs is not to be found, either in the fever of diffipation, or the delufions of a gaming table.

Lady Henrietta. Fie! don't abufe gaming,the thing I doat on

Warford. Excufe me, madam ;-but if I might advise, you had better never play again.

Lady Henrietta. Oh! monftrous! Why, you tyrant, would you fhut me from the world and cloister me in an old caftle? If you did, I'd ftill game-I would, if I betted on the ivy, and took odds on the ravens and rooks-Wou'dn't you, Mifs Dazzle?

Mifs Dazzle. Me! I'd keep a rookery on purpofe.

Lady Henrietta. Ay, that you would-but come-I'm going to meet my uncle, Sir Thomas, at the library-would you believe it? He,

too,

too, is fo offended at my turning gamefter, that he has forbid me his house, and adopted his littlé God-daughter for his heirefs;-but-let's walk. Mifs Dazzle. With pleasure-we fhall fee you at Faro in the evening.

Lady Henrietta. Oh certainly-Nay, how you frown now, Mr. Warford? Come, I'll make a bargain with you-if I lofe a thousand pounds to-night, I'll promise never to game againnever! because, having nothing left to lose, I must e'en make a virtue of neceffity, and reform in fpite of myself-Come. [Exeunt.

SCENE II.-Outfide of Sir CHARLES DAZZLE'S boufe.-View of the Sea.

Enter Sir CHARLES, (followed by a Servant with a Portmanteau.)

Sir Charles. So, once more I'm escaped from the fever of London and got fafe back to my favorite fea port-Take the things in.

[Exit Servant into house. fuppofe my fifter has fo plucked the pigeons in my abfence, that there's fcarcely a feather left in the town.

Enter Mifs DAZZLE.

Mifs Dazzle. Welcome from London, brother I have juft left the idol of your heart, the charming Henrietta!-As ufual, the banker's nephew was attending her.

Sir Charles. Ay, ay; its all pretty plain-but I won't be fcandalous.

Mifs Dazzle. Well, if fhe's his to-day, fhe'll be yours to-morrow-I have feen Mr. Smalltrade he talks of becoming a partner, and if you play your cards well, Lady Henrietta will be completely in your power.

Sir Charles. Yes; for when I've won all her money-I can be generous enough to become her protector! [afide.] Well, fifter, we fhall ruin them all; and now-a-days you know you can't do your friend a greater fer

vice.

Mifs Dazzle. What! than to ruin him!

Sir Charles. To be fure-Where is the ruin'd man that doesn't spend twice the income of the richest citizen in London? Don't many of them have executions in their house in the morning, and give galas at night? An't the very bailiffs turned into fervants, and don't they still stake five thousand on a card? Nay, I know a man that has done it all his life.

Mifs Dazzle. Do you? Who?

Sir Charles. Myfelf!-I never had a fhilling and I've always lived like a Nabob-And how have I done all this? How, but by hofpitality! By entertaining my friends elegantly at one table, and genteelly picking their pockets at another.

Mifs Dazzle. Very true; and when we've ruined the banker, his nephew and his vifitor, they'll think themfelves much obliged to usBut mind and humour Smalltrade, for, without ready money, we can't go on-Who's here?

Sir Charles. (looking out.) Where?-Oh! its a a hanger-on of mine-a mere Jackall, who dangles after me in hopes of preferment-I brought

him from London, thinking he might be useful.

Mifs Dazzle. What, is it Pavè?

Sir Charles. The fame-The dog has a good heart-great good humour, and is defcended from a refpectable family; but in running after people of rank, and high company, he has fo reduced his fortune, that he now depends on me to get him promoted.

Mifs Dazzle. Ay; I've heard of him-introduce him to a lord, or promife him an appointment, and he'll do any thing to ferve you.

a

Sir Charles. Aye; fo great is his furor, that an interview with a Prince, or an audience of Minifter, wou'd turn his brain-but I believe, were he once provided for, he wou'd neither betray his benefactor, nor difgrace his Country.

Enter Pavè, (a long roll of Paper sticking out of bis Pocket.)

Pavè, (running up to Sir Charles.) Sir Charles! -hark ye. (Whispers.)

Sir Charles. Lord Orville coming home! What then?

Pavè. Then, Lord Orville is your acquaintance, and I am your friend, and-you underftand-I'm always ready.

Sir Charles. Pray, fifter, have you any intereft? If you have, this gentleman, Mr. PavèMifs Daxzle. I fhou'd be very happy; but I fancy there is nothing more difficult than to get a place.

Pavè, Yes there is, Ma'am,-to deserve it! And that I deferve it, is evident from my long C 2

lift

lift of promifes-(takes out roll of paper) here it is Ma'am My four firft promifes depend on Lord Orville, you fee-my next is from you, Baronet.

Mifs Dazzle. Pray, Mr. Pavè, do you find that when these great people make you promises, they always keep their words?

Pavè. Oh! Sir Charles will answer you that queftion, Ma'am-Heh!-Mum! Baronet!

Sir Charles, Nay, Pavè, you know the other day I referr'd you to a man in power.

Pave. You did;-and he referr'd me to another, who kindly fent me to a third, that politely hurried me to a fourth, till at laft I got kicked down ftairs by a perfon who faid he knew none of us-You fee the fcheme is this, Ma'am-Nobody will fpeak firft in your favor, but all promife to fecond any body who will, because, judging by themselves, they know nobody'll fpeak at all.

Mifs Dazzle. Well, if I was you, Mr. Pavè, I'd try fome more public mode of getting preferr'd For inftance now, fuppofe you advertized.

Pave. Don't mention it-I did advertize once, and what do you think happened? A gentleman waited upon me, calling himself Lord Sulwin-fuperb equipage-elegant appearance, -free in his promifes-fecure in his intereftI bowed, smiled, gave his lordship a thousand guineas, and he proved to be an attorney! A money lending rafcal! And I've never feen or heard of him fince!

Sir Charles. An attorney! Ha, ha, ha! Should you know him again?

3

Pave.