virtue in wine as in women! (Sir Solomon holds up his cane to strike him-Veritas interposes.)—What! have not you had enough of that cane?-that pinner-up of old curtains! Pooh! I don't value it a straw not a straw!-So! come, Pupil ; you've made your speech. And now let's adjourn to the inn, and drink more draughts of morality, Enter MRS. RIGID. Mrs. Rigid. All's ready-all's prepared, Sir Solomon!-Howard here!- Why cousin! (Going up to Veritas.) Howard. (Stopping her.) Softly, Doctor Busby -You won't let me speak to your pupil, therefore you must not talk to mine. He's a good boy, and you may corrupt him. Keep off. Mrs. Rigid. They're both intoxicated!-Heaven defend me!-Why, Veritas, are not you ashamed? Veritas. Not a bit.-There's some apology for drunken honesty-but none for sober villainy. So drink, drink and reform! Howard. Stick to your bottle, Doctor." In vino Veritas!" (Sings.) Veritas. Come, George. Mrs. Rigid. Come! Why, would you leave me at this moment? now, when Albina is locked up when the lawyer and the clergyman are waiting? What shall I do? Howard. Do? Tell the two black gentlemen to strike out the name of Veritas in their paperssubstitute mine in its place, and I'll return and marry Albina in half an hour! No, I won't marry her. Till she's a good daughter, she sha'n't have a good husband!-so come, my boy. Now for the inp!I say though, isn't it a long way? Veritas. Long! No; when a man's drunk, it isn't the length Howard. True; it's the width. Farewell, most amiable, most Platonic pair!" To wine I flew to ease the pain!" (Both sing.) Veritas. Farewell, King Solomon ! Howard. Good b'ye, Doctor Busby !— " To wine I flew," &c. [Exit with Veritas, Mrs. Rigid. Amazing! what does it mean, Sir Solomon? Has Howard corrupted him? Sir Sol. He has; and now I'm decided; they shall neither of them enter my doors again; and as for Mandeville, I'll make an example of him directly. I have traced him from the cottage to the back part of the Castle: he is now concealed amongst the ruins; and I'll go order Realize to lay hold of him this very moment. In the interim, do you take care of Albina. Mrs. Rigid. Oh, she's very safe. I have placed Deborah, a steady old servant, as a guard over her; and the haunted chamber shall be her abode till we find a new husband for her. Good night, Sir Solomon!-I couldn't have thought that Mr. Veritas would have turned out such aBut it's a strange world; and we have lived so long in it, that nothing now ought to perplex or surprise us. Sir Sol. Nothing ever surprises me; and such are the changes of this whirl-about life, that though your system is Platonic love, and mine no love at all, yet I shouldn't be astonished if we were to become man and wife, and be as happy a couple, Mrs. Rigid, as No, hang it That would surprise me, indeed! [Exeunt, severally. SCENE-An old Gothic Chamber, with Doors at each Wing-in the Flat another Door-Over it is the Portrait of a Man in Armour-a State Bed. ALBINA (still in the Lieutenant's Uniform) discovered writing-DEBORAH waiting. Albina. Deborah!-Do take your hand from the table, Deborah: you shake it so I can't go on with "Dear Mr. Howard," my letter. (Writing.) Deborah. Lord, Miss! Isn't it midnight? and ar'n't we alone in a haunted chamber? Albina, Haunted! Foolish nonsense; I suppose you've been prying into those new romances the governess brought for me-all about abbeys, skeletons, rusty daggers, fat monks, and fainting nuns. Pooh! It's all very well to frighten children; but for such grown-up misses as you and I, Deborah Oh, we're not afraid of the dead-nothing but the living frightens us. So sit fast in your chair.- -And now for the letter- "Dear Mr. Howard-They have locked me up in an uninhabited part of the Castle, and placed an old mastiff over me." (The Castle clock strikes one.) Deborah. There--He's coming! Albina. Who's coming? Deborah. The baron!-- the baron! Deborah. Why, in the days of yore an old Norman baron was murdered in that bed; and ever since, when the Castle clock strikes one, that door is sure to open, (Pointing to it.) and in he stalks in black armour. Albina. Does he indeed? - Well!' I shall be very glad to see him; and that we may have a full view of him, do snuff the candles. Deborah. Snuff the candles, Miss? Albina. Ay: let's see what he's made of, Deborah: Deborah. (In her fright snuffs out one of the candles.) I saw the picture shake; and that's a sure sign the baron is approaching. Albina. So it is. I'll frighten her away if I can. (Aside.) Hark! Don't you hear the rattling of armour? Deborah. I do. Albina. And the clanking of chains; and the screech-owl; and the ravens; and the cats; and the mice? and don't you hear me, Deborah? Deborah. I do. Oh, Lord! The governess may come and watch you herself. I won't stay to be hacked to pieces! Albina. Hush! The door opens; and there he is, as black as Belzeebub. Oh, dear! My courage fails me! Go to him, Deborah! and while he makes mince-meat of you, I shall have time to run away. Pray do, Deborah. Deborah. Not I! Heaven protect you ! [Exit, frightened. Albina. Ha! ha! ha! What an old coward it is! Now nothing ever makes me tremble-nothing! Oh yes; the very thought of Howard makes me so nervous-Heigho!-I'll proceed with the letter: (Sits and writes.) " and placed an old mastiff over "me,' -a pretty mastiff indeed!" because I "won't marry the tutor. But I am a girl of such pride, such spirit, such fortitude, Mr. Howard," (The report of a pistol is heard.) "What's that? A pistol at this time of night, and so near me! Lord! It's very alarming! Who can it be?-Oh, it's the poachers firing at the game! Psha! What a fool I was! Hem!"-(Sits and writes.) "I am "a girl of such pride, such spirit, such forti (Noise of forcing open a door.)-Well! — (Noise again.)-Somebody's forcing the door! He's coming! The baron's coming! (Noise again.) Oh dear! I'll run away! (Tries to open the door Deborah went out at, but finds it fastened.) Oh! she's locked me in! Deborah! Deborah! (Runs and hides herself behind the bed.) (The door is burst open, and Mandeville enters with a pistol in his hand.) Mand. Life isn't worth the struggle! Howard hadn't left me an hour amongst the ruins of the Castle, when Realize and his followers came up with me. I remonstrated in vain. They seized me; and seeing no other mode of extricating myself, I fired my pistol in the air, and the cowards vanished. Here perhaps I may rest in safety. (Sits down, and puts the pistol on the table.)- How! A light! I thought this part of the Castle had been uninhabited! Sure nobody observes me. Ha! the curtain moves! One of the villains has pursued me! Is there to be no period to their persecution? (Pulls forth Albina.) Mark me, Sir. Return to the agent who employed you. Begone directly, or this pistol Albina. Oh Lord! Deborah! Deborah! Mand. No noise! Begone this instant! (Albina retires up.) Stop. Come back. You may betray me to your curst associates: therefore remain. Sit down. (Forces her into a chair.) Stir notlook not breathe not! Albina. I won't. Deborah!--Debo Mand. Hush! Or by Heaven!- -Stay. Sure I should know that face. Speak-Do you not recollect me? Albina. No. But I shall never forget you. Mand. 'Tis the youth who came to the cot |