Lady Henrietta, who is plac'd under your protection, you will refufe to countenance fuch infamous defigns-They will draw you into the partnership, rob you of your fortune, and laugh at you for your folly.

Smalltrade. Indeed!

Warford. Yes, fir; and without your affiftance they must fall to the ground; for though they make large fums every night-they contrive to spend 'em every day.

Smalltrade. Oh! then they do make large fums, do they?

Warford. Certainly-But how is it done? By perverting the laws of hofpitality-by annihilating the bonds of fociety, and under the specious mask of rank and character, perpetrating crimes that common fharpers are excluded from.

Smalltrade. What's that to you or me? If the money's made, it's quite enough to fatisfy my confcience! So, go, fir-finish the articles of partnership, and bring them inftantly.

Warford. Oh, fir! confider-Even now perhaps Lady Henrietta is falling a victim to their artifices, and if you join the confederacy, allall will be undone !

Smalltrade. Go, fir-no reply-I must and will be obeyed.

[Exit WARFORD. Senfelefs flat! While I can fill my ftomach in one room, and my pockets in the other, what do 1 care for him or Henrietta? But now to take a peep, just to fee who's lofing. (Looks in Faro-Room.)

Enter

Enter Pavè.

Pave. Really, this is a moft fhocking bufinefs-I'm told they've drawn in their relation, a filly country banker-Sir Charles brought me down to be useful, but no profpect of advantage to myself, fhall ever induce me to take part in a bad administration. -Ha! yonder's that little great man-Now, if I can but coax him into my lift of promifes! Sir, your most obedient.

Smalltrade. Sir, your moft devoted.

Pave. I fee, fir, you're a friend of my patron, Sir Charles-And, next to being a man of rank one's felf, I know nothing like living amongst them-Where does your intereft lay, fir? Smalltrade. My intereft! Who the deuce is

this?

Pavè. I wish I knew his title. (afide.) Pray be feated, fir. (They fit.) Now, fir. (Taking out his roll of promifes) Look at that lift of promifes! Many of your noble friends, you fee, fir-but nothing done! Nothing!

Smalltrade. Many of my noble friends! Oh! what, you want promotion, do you?-My dear fir, I've no influence.

Pavè. Excufe me, fir-I know better-Do you think I can't tell a great man when I fee him? (SMALLTRADE looks pleas'd.) Befides, when was it that fuch manners, fuch an appear. ance, and fuch a ftyle of drefs cou'dn't command every thing. (SMALLTRADE looks more pleas'd.) My dear fir, you remind me of the old court, you do indeed-Of an old bedchamber lord. Smalltrade,

D 2

Smalltrade. (greatly pleas'd) Bedchamber lord! Ay; I'm very upright. (Holds up his head.) Pavè. Perhaps you are diffident, fir-never applied.

Smalltrade. Why, that's very true-I never did ask a man in power a favour, never—I've à great mind to try.

Pavè. Do-make the experiment, and by way of founding, get a fmall fnug appointment for me, before you ask a grand one for yourfelf.

Smalltrade. I will-I'll get a little one for you, and a great one for myfelf-Was there ever fuch a delicious fcene? How riches do pour in upon me!

Pavè. Riches! Why, did the fcheme never ftrike you before?

Smalltrade. Never-And I'm amazed I cou'd be fuch a greenhorn. (rifes.) Oh! I'll go and afk Sir Charles directly.

Pavè. Afk Sir Charles! Pooh! he's only one hope himself.

Smalltrade. One hope! What's that?

Pavè. Why, don't you know? As we're alone I'll tell you-There's a country bankerThey've drawn in the old greenhorn to be a partner!

Smalltrade. What!

Pavè. He'll ftop payment of course, and as he's not a man of character-only a little sneaking, fhuffing shopman.-For my part I'm glad on't, an't you, fir?

Smalltrade. Indeed I am not, fir.-So, he's to be a bankrupt, is he?

Pave. Certainly-I fhall, perhaps, be one of

his creditors-But between you and I, I fha'n't fign his certificate.

Smalltrade. You won't fign his certificate!

Pavè. No-what business has a tradefman to turn black legs? To be fure he won't fneak into the Gazette like a tailor or a tallow-chandler for a paltry hundred or fo! No-he'll preferve his dignity! Fail like a gentleman for thirty or forty thousand pounds-You take the joke, don't you?

Smalltrade. No, dam'me if I do? And they mean to ruin him do they?

Pavè. Ruin him! Oh! it's all fettled! Sir Charles told me he faw him lofe a guinea juft now-" Poor devil," fays he, "he little thinks "how near it is his laft." Ha, ha, ha! (Walks up the stage.)

Re-enter WARFORD (with the Articles).

Warford. According to your commands, fir, I have brought you the articles.

Smalltrade. Have you? Then thus I tear them. (Taking and tearing them.) George, I ask your pardon-I'm fo afham'd, yet fo gratified, that though that impudent dog has infulted me, I can't help liking him for having open'd my

eyes.

Pavè. (coming down ftage) Well!—have you thought-Oh, mum-applying to a friend!That's right-ftick clofe to every body.

Smalltrade. Did you ever hear fuch a fellow? But come, let's return home, and inftead of this new-fangled mode of getting money, we'll grow rich the old way-By honefty and industry, my boy.

Warford.

Warford. Stay, fir-think that Lady Henrietta is ftill in danger, and fure you will not leave the house till fhe is released.

Smalltrade. What can I do, George? Neither you nor I can perfuade her, and unless her father, Lord Orville, were here

Pavè. Lord Orville! That's the man! He can settle us all-Oh! I wish I knew how to oblige him.

Warford. Do you, fir? Then, his daughter, Lady Henrietta, is now at the gaming-table, and if you will but fave her as you have this gentleman, I'll answer for it, her father will reward you.

Pavè. Reward me! my dear fir, when a lady's in diftrefs, do you think I care who or what her father is Lord Orville's daughter! Whugh! Here's an opportunity! Oh! I'll go find her out directly.

Warford. Be cautious, fir-for if Sir Charles difcovers your intentions

Pavè. What then, fir? Do you fuppofe I'm influenced by any but people of merit and diftinction? Such as Lord Orville, and your elegant friend, my graceful bedchamber lord, who, I know, will not forget the fnug appointmentWhere fhall I conduct the lady?

And, d'ye

Smalltrade. We'll wait below hear-Tell Mifs Dazzle not to forget to fleece the country banker.

Pave. I will-And fhew Sir Charles I'm a man of real confequence. Adieu! wait here a moment, and you'll fee the little tradefman come out howling! But it won't do I fha'n't fign his certificate! Ha, ha, ha!

Smalltrade,