Gingham. It's true-I'll fwear it!-I'll (another book falls.) crau-au-au ! Darnley. I'll not believe it-he is above fuch arts, and I would have you, madam, not encrease your guilt, by daring to abuse my best of friends. Gingham. Beft of friends!-upon my foul, you've a rare fet of acquaintance then.-Sir ! I always had a knack at speaking what comes uppermoft, and I fay, Sir George wanted to turn me out, in order to lock her in-I fay, he gave me this wound, in trying to defend her from his infolence-I fay he is now conceal'd in this room! (Books fall from the Library, and leave an open space. GINGHAM looks round, and fees Sir GEORGE'S face frowning at him through the aperture.) Gingham. No-I don't fay he is in the roomI don't because because―(looking round again) it's better to be choak'd than kill'd. Darnley. See how he prevaricates: and therefore, that my friend may be flander'd and I deceiv'd no longer, 'tis time I fhould decideMaria!-It almoft kills me to pronounce it(afide.) we meet no more(going.) Mrs. Darnley. (Holding him.) Stay-fpare me but a moment-I cannot-will not lofe him; Harry, think of our love-our children.— Gingham. Sir! fir!-let me ask you two queftions-(Another book falls, and Sir George frowns at him.) Ay, grin away you- -Sir, can you fence, and will you fight? Darnley. Perhaps, you'll find, I can, fir. Gingham. Gingham. And if I prove that Sir George hid himself to avoid you, will you ftand by, and fee a poor fellow cut to atoms? Darnley. No-on the contrary, I fhall be fo convinc'd of the truth of your ftory Gingham. Say you fo? then come out you black infernal feducer! (Runs up to the Library-forces open the front doors, and amidst the falling of all the books, Sir GEORGE GAUNTLET is difcovered!) Gingham. There there he is! and now come on, if you dare-here's a pair of the beft fencers. in Europe? (Snatching up a fword and placing himfelf by Darnley.) Darnley. "Tis all unravel'd-detefted hypo crite! Sir George. Ah, Darnley !-how d'ye do?this is a droll circumftance, isn't it!—but I hope you are convinc'd. Darnley. Yes, fir, I am convinc'd. Darnley. That you and Lady Sarah have join'd in a confpiracy to deceive me and betray my wife; that you have meanly put on the mask of friendship, to conceal the blackeft artifices, and that if you had come to my house and boldly plunder'd me of all my fortune Ging ham. He'd only have been hang'd!-but now he fhall be cut to atoms. Sir George. Be cautious in your language, Mr. Darnley-you know my difpofition. Darnley. I do--I know you well: and henceforth if you dare, either by action, word, or look; mark me, fir-raife but a blush in her unfullied cheek, cheek, I will refent it-I'll inflict a punishment great as your arrogance deferves! Sir George. Arrogance! Gingham. Ay, arrogance !—are you deaf? Sir George. Sir, this requires an explanation; you fhall hear from me. Gingham. Pooh! Darnley. Delay not then, for I shall leave your house this moment. (Sir George exit.)-Come, Maria, to you and this gentleman I have a thoufand apologies Gingham. Blefs you! I'm amply paid in letting my tongue wag-and as to any thing elfe, allow me once more to speak my mind to your fweet coufin, Clara.-Come, let's go to her-Oh, you well-bred ruffian !-to be first pink'd, and then nearly choak'd by fuch a - ; on the whole, though, I never fought better in all my life! [Exeunt. ACT V. SCENE I.-A Room in a Tavern-Dinner under covers-DARNLEY difcover'd fitting at the Table-Waiter attending. Darnley. Tell Sir George Gauntlet, Mr. Darnley is waiting.-what's o'clock ? Waiter. Six, fir. Darnley. The time draws near-I wonder where my friend can be? put fome wine on the table and leave me. Waiter. Sir George is below, in close converfation with a gentleman, who feems anxious to fee you, fir. Darnley. His fecond, I fuppofe-tell him, I am here (Waiter exit.) 'Sdeath!-to what have I reduc'd myfelf?-I that had every joy this world can give-a peaceful home-a wife that lov'd, and children that rever'd me!-I to be now in a tavern, on the eve of meeting with a profefs'd duellift! to be about to commit murder, or elfe to live difhonour'd and difgrac'd-Oh, Maria!-when thou fhalt hear thy husband is no more, wilt thou forgive me ?-wilt thoubut my fate determines hers, and if I fall fhe is for ever loft! Re-enter the Waiter. Waiter. The gentleman from Sir George Gauntlet, fir. Darnley. Darnley. Admit him-now then for the event! Enter GINGHAM, haftily. Gingham. I'm fo fag'd-fo completely knock'd up: (fees the dinner.) ha, ha! what's here!-the very thing to revive me. Darnley. I hope, fir, you haven't been talking to Sir George. Gingham. Yes, but I have though-you employ'd me as fecond, and if you're fhot, it fhall be in the way I like beft. (fitting down.) Waiter! waiter ! Waiter. (To Gingham, who is going to pull off a cover of one of the dishes.) Sir! fir!-Sir George order'd that difh not to be touch'd till he came. Gingham. Did he ?-then it's the pick'd thing, I fuppofe, fo I'll eat it all up directly, (uncovers it, and fees a brace of piftols laying 'midft powder and ball.) here-it's quite at his fervice, and I wifh the whole were in his ftomach, with all my foul!-(giving the difb to the waiter, and uncovering another.) Ah! here's fomething that I can fwallow. (begins eating.) Well, after hunting every where for Sir George, I found him below ftairs at laft" fo" fays I" my little Librarian”—alluding to the book-cafe you know" when are you and this jealous hufband"-alluding to you, you know" to fight this foolish duel?" (drinks a glafs of wine.) Clara! my dear Clara Sedley! Darnley. Well, fir. Gingham. Says I "the fact is this; one will be kill'd, the other be hang'd, and the world get rid of two hot-headed fellows :" fays he, "Will L 2 Darnley |