Enter ROBERT GRANGE. Robert. Sir, your humble fervant-I hope I don't mistake; but if you be the wonderful London lawyer they do taik of, I've a bit of a job for you. Paul. You have, have you?-talk of the Devil I'm he! I'm the wonderful London lawyer! Robert. By gom! I thought fo; and I like your looks at first fight; you feem to have fo little pride-fo little of the gentleman about you, fir. (bowing.) Paul. Thank you-and I'm happy to be able to return. the compliment; but your cafe; state, ftate Robert. Why, you fee, fir, I be not a perfon of rank myself; but coufin Bell be my lady, though I be none; and poor foul! fhe a been caft away like a weed by a bafe deceiver-and when he came out of Ivy farm, I'd certainly have ftopt him, and got an understanding; only Bell fitted it beyond her ufual mark, and claw'd me fo tight by the throat, that he got off; and here I am, as you fee, fir, without any understanding at all. Paul. Enough-fee your cafe at one viewplaintiff, unfufpicious country girl; defendant, rich feducer; domeftic peace, parental love, filial affection, paradife, Eve, Satan, dark night, rope ladder, post-chaife and four, and a thousand pounds damages only wifh fhe were a married woman, and you her husband-that's the valuable action; but as it is-What's her name? Robert. Why he do call herself Lady Senfitive; but I suppose that won't do with you lawyer gentlemen; and fo, between ourselves, her real name is Bell-Arabella Grange. Paul. Arabella ;-very well-and her feducer's? the Star inn. Paul. Sapling! Oh ho-thought fo-thought this would come of the old fellow's fashionable habitsknow him well; and fee, if I miftake now-fee, if this case don't confirm my reputation; and difficult as it is, I'll get you an understanding (going). But ftop-let it be moderate-don't expect a great one. Robert. No: our terms are quite moderate; Bell only requires that he'd fettle on her all his own fortune, and all this Mifs Honoria Thingambob's; and as to myself, I fhall be fatisfied if he'll jult promote me to the rank of major or coloneleither in the army or navy, I don't care which, fir. Paul. Don't you?-it's done then.-An hour hence meet me at the Star inn; and bring your coufin with you; and we'll have a bit of dinner; always mix pleasure with bufinefs, one helps the other; and only be ready with your evidenceno dilguifes though-no getting into petticoatsno come forward as witnefs-and I'm a wonderful lawyer.-Arabella, a rich lady; and you, a major or a colonel, in the army or the navy! [Exit. Robert. Dang it as I faid, not a bit of the gentleman about him; but fomehow, I'm forry he do want me as witnefs; I can't bear the thought of thefe examinations and crofs examinations, ever fince they brow beat me fo at laft 'fizes:-" So," fays Counsellor Bounce, "your name is Robert Grange, is it? Well! and pray what is your opinion of this cafe, Mafter Robert ?"-" Why, I take it" fays I. "you are paid for your opinion, Matter Counsel, and therefore I'll thank you for a fee, before I give mine."-" Silence!" fays he, "and upon your oath, are you not fuch a notorious poacher, that you are commonly call'd fnaring, thieving Bob?"-" Yes, I am," fays, I " by fuch low chaps as you are; but never by gentlemen; and if you'll ftep out, and have a fnug, friendly round round or two, why I'll wager this half guinea"and then I felt for my purfe and couldn't find it; and fo I fell a blubbering, and charg'd them all with picking my pocket, and then they laugh'd, and turn'd me out of court!--but I'll to Bell; and if this master lawyer do provide for us, why I'll be fo grateful to the whole tribe, that I'll give them my opinion gratis, whenever they afk for it. [Exit. END OF THE FOURTH ACT ACT V. SCENE.-The Outfide of the Star Inn.-In the Back Ground an open Country.-Trees at the Wings. Enter SAPLING and GROOM. Sapling. Don't you be afraid, William. I'll keep my ground; I'll vex her in my turn. I'l join the hunt, dine with the club, fing, game, and deftroy my own health in toafting other people's; and if I drink myfelf dead, I know the won't furvive me and if I get dead drunk, why, then I'm a philofopher-above her, and the miferies of this life. Groom. Ay, fir, this is all very well now; but fuppofe miftrefs were prefent. Sapling. Then I'd avow it to her face. Go, prepare my favourite, whilft I drefs in the inn. Oh yes, the chace infpires me! and dogs and horfes fhall afford that folid joy, that love and wives and monkies would deny me. I'm up!the lion's rous'd!—an earthquake wou'dn't shake me! [Exit into the inn, Enter HONORIA, with her Hat and Cloak on. Honoria. Heavens! how my heart beats! Yonder is the inn; and yet I fear that Henry will condemn me. Perhaps he knows not my immediate danger; but, furely, when he hears it, he'll (noife without)--Ha! all hope is paft; I am puriued, difcovered. Enter Mrs. SAPLING. Mrs. Sapling. Vaftly well!-as I was informed. Caught you in the fact of eloping, on the very eve of fe ting out for Scotland! But come, madam; and if you perfift in the excursion, let Mr. Privilege conduct you. Honoria. Never! Coward as I am, I will not give my hand but where my heart's difpos'd of: and Henry, generous Henry, is it's owner! Mrs. Sapling. What! Mr. Sapling hasn't told then? You hav'n't heard of this rival? Honoria. Rival! you Mrs. Sapling. Oh yes; there's a miftrefs in the cafe. The generous, artless Henry keeps a crea ture Honoria. I'll not believe it; the heart that's capable of virtuous love muft fcorn all bafer paffion; and here (producing a letter) he tells me he's devoted to Honoria. Look! Mrs. Sapling (looking over the letter). I do; and it feems, "he's in that inn, and detained there on se"cret business." Oh, why fecret? My life on't, because the lady is now with him. I know Mr. Sapling fent for her, and therefore-Landlord ! landlord! Enter Landlord. Landlord. Madam! Mrs. Sapling. Tell me, fir, isn't there a naval officer, a Mr. Henry Sapling, in your house? Landlord. There is, ma'am. Mrs. Sapling. And is he alone? That is, isn't there a lady with him? Landlord: Yes, ma'am, there is a lady with him. Per haps |