ACT III. SCENE I.-An Apartment at SMALLTRADES. Lady HENRIETTA difcovered fitting at a Toilette. Lady Henrietta. So, the day of reckoning is at laft arrived; and here I fit forgotten by my father, neglected by my uncle Sir Thomas, and unpitied by every body-Even Mr. Pavè has avoided me-finding Lord Orville was offended with me, he retired, faying he wou'd give me no further trouble-Alas! how, how have I involved myself? Enter BETTY. Betty. Lord, Ma'am, I'm frighten'd out of my senses-What do you think Sir Charles has done? Lady Henrietta. What, Betty? Betty. He has employ'd a gentleman, who, he fays, will get the money from you directlyAn attorney, Ma'am. Lady Henrietta, An attorney! Betty. Yes, your ladyfhip-Sir Charles infifts he lent you a thousand pounds. Lady Henrietta. So he did, Betty-He lent it first and won it afterwards-Have you feen Mr. Warford? Betty. I have, Ma'am, and-(befitating.) Betty. When I told him your diftrefs, my lady, and faid you wou'd thank him to lend you a hundred 6 a hundred pounds to convey you abroad, he made no reply. Lady Henrietta. No! Betty. No, Ma'am-but left the room inftantly. Lady Henrietta. This wounds me more than all! That Warford fhou'd defert me! Yet why do I upbraid him! He warn'd me of my danger, and now, too justly shuns me for my folly. Betty. Lord, don't fret about it, my ladyWho knows but this lawyer may prove a very gentlemanlike man-Talk of old friends-Give me a new acquaintance, I fay! (Loud knocking.) Here he is, Ma'am! Here's the attorney-(looks out) Upon my word! What an elegant equipage! See, Ma'am ! A handfome phaeton and two Servants on horfeback. Enter a Servant. Servant. Ma'am, here's a gentleman in a phaeton, who fays his name is Latitat. Lady Henrietta. Shew him in. [Exeunt Betty, and Servant. Really this must be a ftrange kind of an attorney; but in these days, nothing furprizes! Enter LATITAT in an elegant Morning Dress. Latitat. Let my carriage wait-Ma'am, your moft obedient. Lady Henrietta. Pray be feated, fir-(they fit) I'm told, fir, you have fome law-bufinefs. Latitat. I have, Ma'am-but no hurry about that I always do the thing genteellyPray, Ma'am, were you at the last grand meeting of archers? Lady Henrietta. No, fir, I was not. Latitet. Latitat. That's unlucky-I got the verdictThat is, I won the prize-hit the bull's eyecarried off the beugle-horn-Here it is-(puts bis hand in wrong pocket and takes out papers) No -that's a bill in Chancery-Here, Ma'am(pulls out beugle-born) received it from the lady patronefs-kifs'd her hand-proclaim'd victormarch'd in proceffion-colours flying-mufic playing clients huzzaing! Did the thing genteelly, Ma'am ! Lady Henrietta. Indeed, fir, you were very fortunate. . Latitat. Oh, I'm a nice fellow, Ma'am !— Then at cricket-laft grand match-got fixty notches the Peer run out-the Baron ftumpt, and the General knock'd down his own wicketI was long-stop-famous at a long-stop, Ma'am -cricket or law! ball or debtor! Let neither flip through my fingers! heh, Ma'am! do the thing genteelly.. Lady Henrietta. So it feems-But, pray, fir, how can you follow the law amidst fuch a confufion of profeffions? Latitat. Law and confufion are the fame thing, Ma'am-Then I write my own fongs, draw my own pleadings, ride my own racesTo be fure I never won one in my life-but then I always rode like a gentleman! Heh, Ma'am! do the thing genteelly. Lady Henrietta. Certainly-But now, may we talk about my business? Latitat. Don't alarm yourself-that's all settled My friend will be here presently-he'll fhew you every accommodation. Enter Enter Servant. Servant. A gentleman in a curricle, Ma'am. Latitat. In a curricle! Oh! that's my friend -Shew him in. [Exit Servant. Now here! here's another proof of my talents! When I came to this town, Ma'am, little Nab hadn't a fhilling! I learnt him the practiceNow he lives in ftyle, drives his carriage, and will lend you a thoufand pounds. Lady Henrietta. Will he, fir? I'm very much oblig'd to him. Enter NAB, (Smartly drefs'd). Nab. (Speaks as he enters) Put clothes on the horses, and raise the top of the curricle that the lady mayn't catch cold. Latitat. Mr. Nab, Lady Henrietta Lady Henrietta, Mr. Nab-There! make your bow(Nab bows affectedly) And now fhake hands. Lady Henrietta. Shake hands, fir! Latitat. Yes-Let him do the thing genteelly (Nab gently touches her hand) There! the bufinefs is fettled! You're arrested at the fuit of Sir Charles Dazzle, and little Nab will drive you away in his curricle. Lady Henrietta. Arrested! Latitat. Lord, don't be uneasy-his house is a palace-full of the beft furniture, the best wines; and I give you my honor, the best company! You'll find fome very fashionable people there-Some of your intimate friends-heh, Nab! Nab. Yes, Ma'am, and I entertain my company fo fuperbly, that when they leave my houfe, its always in good humour, I affure you-Be fides we can make up a Faro bank-every thing in style. Lady Henrietta. This it is to be deluded into the vortex of diffipation-May it be a leffon to my fex, and prove how short the distance is, from the gay affociates of high life to the low companions of my prefent hour-But fince it must be fo-Since I have no friend to fuccour or protect me, I must, perforce, fubmit-Come, firs, conduct me. Enter WARFORD. Warford. Where are you going, gentlemen? Latitat. To take the lady an airing, fir-Will you join the party? Lady Henrietta. Mr. Warford, I little expected to see you here-The gentleman who reproved me in profperity is at least confiftent in fhunning me in adverfity. Warford. What is your demand, fir? (To LATITAT.) Latitat. Nab, fhew the writ. Nab. The debt and cofts are one thousand and twenty pounds. Warford. Here is the money then. (Gives LATITAT bank notes.) Latitat. The what! Warford. There are bank notes for the fum. Latitat. (counting them) So there are-Why, this is doing the thing genteelly-Nab! Nab. Amazing! Warford. What do you ftare at, fir? Latitat. Excufe us, fir, we are a little furpriz'd to be fure; for when my friend and I do hake hands with people of Fashion, we generally pafs fome time with them. Warford. |