fure: but, Lord help you-fhe and I are old friends.

Gingham. What! you know her? do you? Flufb. Know her;-why I'll take my oath she's

a woman.

Gingham. He'll take his oath !-Oh then I fee my error-fhe's on the pavé, difcarded; and they want to palm her on me.

Flufb. Fool!-would you make more blunders! can't you tell a woman of fashion from a ?

Gingham. No-there it is, fir,—if women of fashion will talk and dress like women of ano-, ther defcription, who the devil can tell one from the other? and if, likewife, they will hunt, fhoot, and fence, and prefer mafculine affurance to feminine diffidence, is it amazing, that a gentleman should confound the fexes? however, I'm glad it's not a man.

Flufb. Come-come-without further enquiry, give me Darnley's note; the one Clara brought; the comical dog there, as you call her, is in love with Darnley, and wants to hold the bill as a rod over his head: I fhall only ask her one hundred pounds premium for it.

Gingham. (Taking the note out of his pocket book.) Only a hundred premium! heh!

Flufb. No; I can afford it: and fhe, by arrefting him, can make her own terms-you underftand!

Gingham. Perfectly; fo I'll fhew her the note, and make peace-(goes towards Mifs Savage, who is ftill fitting.)-madam-lady.

Lady Sarah. Pfhaw! don't come near me, brute.

Gingham.

Gingham. I am convinc'd of my mistake, ma'am-this gentleman will take his oath on the fubject, and therefore-in hopes of making amends-here is a note, my lady; a note of Mr. Darnley's for two hundred pounds.

Lady Sarah. What did you fay, fir?

Gingham. A note of Mr. Darnley's, ma'am. Lady Sarah. (Looking at it.) So it is; fign'd with his own dear hand-(rifes.)-well, now I look at you again, fir, I'm quite afham'd of our filly mifunderstanding-I am indeed-he! he! perhaps it was my fault-nay-I dare fay it was-and fo, that's Mr. Darnley's note, is it?

Gingham. It is, and now I recollect, wasn't the lady I conducted from the play, his wife? Lady Sarah. It was-but entre nous-what's the price of that foolish bit of paper?

Flub. Only three hundred pounds! one hundred for the premium, and two for the principal.

Lady Sarah. Here is the money, then.

Gingham. (Putting his hand on hers.) Softly; keep the principal, because you'll both want it, and as to the note, I'll keep that, left fomebody elfe fhould want it! (putting it in his pocket.) you brought me up to the trade, and if I haven't learnt a trick or two, Mr. Flufh, it's no fault of yours.

Flub. What! would you turn fwindler, you rafcal?

Lady Sarah. Ay, this is a new mode of getting money.

Gingham. No-not fo very new-is it Mr. Flush-however, as the wife is the only perfon that ought to have a pow'r over the husband,

I'll e'en go inftantly to Mrs. Darnley, and give it her.

Enter DARNLEY.

Darnley. (fiercely.) What, fir?

Gingham. A note for two hundred pounds, fir, -have you any objections? never mind the lofs of the premium, Mr. Flush-you can afford it, you know-adieu !—Mr. Bluff, (To Darnley, 'who is frowning.) your fervant-it wouldn't doyou comical dog, it wouldn't do!—

(Shewing Lady Sarah Savage the note, and exit.) Darnley. (To Lady Sarah Savage.) 'Sdeath!— this is the very man you told me of.

Lady Sarah. Ay, now can you want further proof of his attachment to your wife ?—I'll leave it to any body :-isn't it evident, Mr. Flush?

Flufb. His giving her two hundred pounds is a ftrong circumftance, to be fure-but then, when I recollect the money is mine, and not hisDarnley. What then, fir?

Flub. Why then, I think, the lady ought to be in love with me, and not him, fir.

Darnley. I'll fet out for London, and never fee her more-yet no-I'll be fatisfied-I'll know the worst.-I'll inftantly pursue this new found idol of her heart, and if I catch him in her prefence

Lady Sarah. Kill him-for a wretch, who can't diftinguish the human fpecies, isn't fit to live-come-I'll go with you.

Flub. So will I-but pray don't kill him, till I've got my papers.

Lady

Lady Sarah. Nay, don't fret about it, Mr. Darnley-you shall return with me to Savagehoufe-come-never think of going to London at this time of year-it's fo thin-all the great houses are lock'd up, and there's no making a fashionable party; is there, Mr. Flush?

Flufh. Your pardon, ma'am-I and my attorney can always collect a fashionable party, and if the great houses are lock'd up, why there are great people in lock-up houfes, fo don't be afraid of finding good company, Mr. Darnley ! [Exeunt.

SCENE II-A Library in Sir GEORGE GAUNT-
LET'S Houfe.

Sir GEORGE, and a fervant, meeting.

Servant. Sir, Sir! Mrs. Darnley is coming here to look for fome books.

Sir George. That's fortunate: did you deliver my meffage to her, and her husband?

Servant. I did, fir; I told them you were gone out of town, and would not return till to-mor

row.

Sir George. Very well! then, in case of accident, leave open the private door that leads behind the library. (Servant opens a door that leads behind the library.) A man of intrigue fhould always have a place to lay fnug in, and where is he fo little likely to be difcover'd, as amongst works of study and reflection? Here the is!

mind we're not interrupted. (Servant exit-Sir George retires towards the Library.)

Enter Mrs. DARNLEY.

Mrs. Darnley. Will Mr. Darnley never be convinc'd of this friend's hypocrify? he is fo credulous, that he even now places more confidence in him, than ever: I'm glad Sir George is out of town-I can at least pass another hour in peace, and-(going towards the Library, Sir George meets her.)

Sir George. Don't be alarm'd, Mrs. Darnley; I'm only a living volume, and if you will perufe my thoughts, you'll read of nothing but yourfelf-you are engraved here in indelible letters, upon my honour.

Mrs. Darnley. Sir, I was inform'd-but this is no time for parleying-alone and unprotected! (going; Sir George ftands in her way.)

Sir George. Nay, you know I have long profeffed a regard for you; long thought you the finest woman on earth! and as a proof, didn't I offer you my hand, before my friend

Mrs. Darnley. Friend! call him by fome other name, Sir George, and don't profane fuch honourable terms.

Sir George. Why, isn't he my friend? havn't I fo completely gain'd his affections, that he wifhes me to win yours? does he not bring you here-to my houfe?-leave me tête-a-tête with you? and in every refpect prove fo kind, fo obliging

Mrs. Darnley. Hold, fir-if he has expofed me to infults, I am the perfon to accuse him-not