Smalltrade. By this time he's loft his laft guinea, ha, ha, ha! [Exit Pavè. Come, George, let's go wait below, and depend on't, that fellow will extricate Henrietta-What an odd dog! He feems fo anxious for preferment, that I've a great mind to turn away my under clerk on purpose to give him a place. [Exeunt. SCENE II.-Another Apartment at Sir Charles's. Sir CHARLES and Lady HENRIETTA, difcovered at Cards. Sir Charles. Point-Sixty. Sir Charles. Quatorze. Lady Henrietta, Good-(rifes) I'll play no more -Never was such a series of ill luck-Well, Sir Charles, what have I loft? Sir Charles. Oh, a trifle! Never think of it, Lady Henrietta. Lady Henrietta. Nay, you may as well feal my doom at once-Come! Sir Charles. Well, if you infift-Here are your notes for money lent at Faro, one thousand pounds, and what I have now won is five hundred, making in the whole fifteen hundred pounds. Lady Lady Henrietta. A very pleafant trifile! But don't imagine I can't pay you, fir, don't Sir Charles. Nay, allow me to relieve you at once-Take back the notes, forget the debt, and think me amply paid, if but a finile the return. Lady Henrietta. No, Sir Charles-I cannot confent to be fo obliged-'Tis true, my imprudence has involved me beyond all hope of being extricated, and my father is abroad, and my uncle won't protect me!—Yet, fir!— Sir Charles. Lady Henrietta, I know your fituation, and feel for you-therefore let me intreat you to accept the notes, and when you want a protector, you know where to find one. Lady Henrietta. A protector, fir! Sir Charles. Be not alarm'd-You know my intentions are honourable, and fince you have no other friend to protect you Lady Henrietta. Sir, I deferve this, amply deferve it-I might have known, when a woman turns gamefter, her fortune is the leaft fhe lofes. The fociety vilifies her feelings-the fatigue ruins her health and understanding, and when fhe has nothing left to ftake, her pride is infulted, and even her honor made a fport of! Sir Charles. How you mistake me! Because I profefs to be your friend, you fuppofe me your enemy-My fifter is in the next room waiting to receive you You will not leave my houfe? Lady Henrietta. Am I made a prisoner then? Heavens! how have I funk myself! Sir Charles. Pray be compofed-I will place you under my fifter's care-She fhall decide whether I deferve your affections-Come, come, be calm-taking her band) Confider, where wou'd you go? Lady Lady Henrietta. Any where, fo I leave your houfe-Don't imagine I have no friends, Sir. Sir Charles. I am your friend, and fee your interest too much to part with you-Nay, you must-You shall be perfuaded-(bolds and detains ber.) Enter Pavè. Pave. So, heaven be prais'd, I have found you at laft, phugh! (puffing himself.) Sir Charles. What brings you here? Pavè. To be useful-Ma'am, your most obedient-What! at your old tricks, my boy? (Smacks Sir Charles on the back and points to cards.) Sir Charles. Hufh! don't you fee I'm bufy! Pavè. Mum! don't expofe yourself-Lady Henrietta, I rejoice-Oh! what a likeness of her father! Sir Charles. 'Sdeath! What do you mean, fir? Pavè. Mean! that we were born to protect women, not infult them, and while I wear a sword, they fhall never want a champion! I tell you what, fir-Your behaviour has been lately very offenfive, and if the lady will give me leave, I'll conduct her to a little great man who is waiting to receive her. Lady Henrietta. As I live its Mr. Smalltrade! Yonder I fee him. Sir Charles. Come here, fir-Answer me, is this your gratitude? Pavè. Gratitude! Now, obferve, Ma'am-I have been his dangler thefe five years I've waited whole hours in the streets, only to catch a fmile from him-dined at his fide-table, and got nothing to eat but fcraps and offals-talk'd of his gallantries, confirm'd his gafconades, and E laugh'd laugh'd at his jokes, though he knows he never cut one in his life-But now,-come, my fweet lady. Sir Charles. Lady Henrietta, will you trust yourself with that reptile? Lady Henrietta. With any body rather than Sir Charles Dazzle. Pavè. You hear, Baronet, you hear! The reptile's not fo contemptible-And to fhew my condefcenfion-Hark ye-I'll speak to Lord Orville for you-Make out a lift of promifesput his lordship at the head, and in the course. of five years, if he don't provide for you, I will! I will, if it's only to fhew you, that one man of rank can be more useful than another, you feeCome, Madam. Sir Charles. Confufion! Am I outwitted? Made a laughing stock of? Enter Mifs DAZZLE. Mifs Dazzle. So, Sir Charles, have you feen that blockhead, Pavè? Sir Charles. Blockhead! villain! Mifs Dazzle. He has undone all my schemes on the banker. Sir Charles. And mine on Lady Henrietta. Mifs Dazzle. You brought him to be useful, didn't you? Sir Charles. I did; and he has completely answered my expectations! Well, fifter, if ruin is the road to happinefs, we are the merrieft couple-Lady Henrietta fhall not escape however-William! Enter Enter a Servant. Go to Mr. Latitat's-Tell him to come to me directly. Mifs Dazzle. To your attorney's, brother. Sir Charles. Yes; I'll leave her to the law now-In the mean time, let's to Mr. Smalltrade -There's a vacancy in the borough, and if I can secure his intereft, and gain the election, I'll fell my tables, leave off hofpitality, reform and live like a gentleman! [Exeunt. |