Enter CAPTAIN O'CUTTER. O'Cut. Jontlemen, your sarvant. Is either of your names Charles Oakly, Esq. Charles. Charles Oakly, sir, is my name, if you have any business with it. O'Cut. Avast, avast, my dear!--I have a little business with your name, but as I was to let nobody know it, I can't mention it till you clear the decks, 'fait. [Pointing to the MAJOR. Charles. This gentleman, sir, is my most intimate friend, and any thing that concerns me may be mentioned before him. O'Cut. O, if he's your friend, my dear, we may do all above-board. It's only about your deciding a deferance with my Lord Trinket. He wants to show you a little warm work; and, as I was steering this way, he desired me to fetch you this letter. Maj. How, sir, a challenge! [Giving a letter. O'Cut. Yes, 'fait, a challenge. I am to be his lordship's second; and, if you are fond of a hot birth, and will come along with that jontleman, we'll all go to it together, and make a little line of battle a-head of our own, my dear. Charles. [Reading.] Ha! what's this? This may be useful. [Aside. Maj. Sir, I am infinitely obliged to you.-A rare fellow this! [Aside.]—Yes, yes, I'll meet all the good company. I'll be there in my waistcoat and pumps, and take a morning's breathing with you. Are you very fond of fighting, sir? O'Cut. Indeed, and I am; I love it better than grog. Maj. But pray, sir, how are you interested in this difference? Do you know what it is about? O'Cut. O, the devil burn me, not I. What signifies what it's about, you know? so we do but tilt a little. Maj. What, fight, and not know for what? O'Cut. When the signal's out for engaging, what signifies talking? Maj. I fancy, sir, a duel's a common break fast with you. I'll warrant now, you have been engaged in many such affairs. O'Cut. Upon my shoul, and I have: sea or land, it's all one to little Terence O'Cutter.-When I was last in Dublin, I fought one jontleman for cheating me out of a tousand pounds; I fought two of the Mermaid's crew about Sally Macquire; tree about politics; and one about the playhouse in Smock Alley. But, upon my fait, since I am in England, I have done noting at all at all. Charles. This is lucky-but my transport will discover me. [Aside.]-Will you be so kind, sir, [To O'CUTTER,] as to make my compliments to his lordship, and assure him, that I shall do myself the honour of waiting on him. O'Cut. Indeed, and I will.-Arrah, my dear, won't you come too? [TO MAJOR OAKLY. Maj. Depend upon it, Captain.-A very extraordinary fellow! [Aside. Charles. Now to get my intelligence. [Aside.]—I think, the time, sir, his lordship appoints in his letter, is-a O'Cut. You say right--Six o'clock. Charles. And the place-a-a-is-I think, behind Montague House. O'Cut. No, my dear!--Avast, by the Ring in Hyde Park, 'fait—I settled it there myself, for fare of interruption. Charles. True, as you say, the Ring in Hyde Park-I had forgot-Very well, I'll not fail you, sir. O'Cut. Devil burn me, nor I. Upon my shoul, little Terence O'Cutter will see fair play, or he'll know the reason-And so, my dear, your sarvant.-You'll not forget to come, my dear? [Exit. Maj. Ha! ha! ha! What a fellow!--He loves fighting like a game cock. Charles. O uncle! the luckiest thing in the world! Maj. What, to have the chance of being run through the body! I desire no such good fortune. Charles. Wish me joy, wish me joy! I have found her, my dear girl, my Harriet !- -She is at an inn in Holborn, Major? Maj. Ay! how do you know? Charles. Why, this dear, delightful, charming, blundering captain, has delivered me a wrong letter. Maj. A wrong letter! Charles. Yes, a letter from Lord Trinket to Lady Freelove. Maj. The devil! What are the contents? Charles. The news I told you just now, that she's at an inn in Holborn: and, besides, an excuse from my lord, for not waiting on her ladyship this morning, according to his promise, as he shall be entirely taken up with his design upon Harriet. Maj. So!-so!-A plot between the lord and the lady. Charles. There! read, read, man! [Giving the letter. Maj. [Reading.] Um-um-um-Very fine! And what do you purpose doing? Charles. To go thither immediately. Maj. Then you shall take me with you. Who knows what his lordship's designs may be? I begin to suspect foul play. Charles. No, no; pray mind your own business. If I find there is any need of your assistance, I'll send for you. Maj. You'll manage this affair like a boy, now-Go on rashly with noise and bustle, and fury, and get yourself into another scrape. Charles. No-no-Let me alone; I'll go incog. Leave my chariot at some distance-Proceed pru dently, and take care of myself, I warrant you. I did not imagine that I should ever rejoice at receiving a challenge, but this is the most fortunate accident that could possibly have happened. B'ye, b'ye, uncle! [Exit hastily. Maj. I don't half approve of this and yet I can hardly suspect his lordship of any very deep designs neither. Charles may easily outwit him. Harkye, William! [At seeing WILLIAM at some distance. Will. Sir! Enter WILLIAM. Maj. Where's my brother? Will. In his study, sir. Maj. Is he alone? Will. Yes, sir. Maj. And how is he, William ? Will. Pretty well, I believe, sir. - Maj. Ay, ay, but is he in good humour, or- [Exit. Maj. Well said, William !--No bad hint for me, perhaps !—What a strange world we live in! No two people in it love one another better than my brother and sister, and yet the bitterest enemies could not torment each other more heartily.—Ah! if he had but half my spirit!--And yet he don't want it neither -But I know his temper-He pieces out the matter with maxims, and scraps of philosophy, and odds and ends of sentences-I must live in peace- -Patience is the best remedy-Any thing for a quiet life! and so on However, yesterday, to give him his due, he behaved like a man. Keep it up, brother! keep it up! or it's all over with you. Since mischief is on foot, I'll even set it forwards on all sides. I'll in to him directly, read him one of my morning lectures, and persuade him, if I possibly can, to go out with me immediately; or work him up to some open act of rebellion against the sovereign authority of his lady-wife. Zounds, brother! rant, and roar, and rave, and turn the house out of the window. If I was a husband!'Sdeath, what a pity it is that nobody knows how to manage a wife but a bachelor. Scene II.-The Bull and Gate Inn. Enter HARRIET. [Exit. Har. What will become of me? Among all my distresses, I must confess that Charles's behaviour yesterday is not the least. So wild! so given up to excesses! And yet I am ashamed to own it even to myself— I love him: and death itself shall not prevail on me to give my hand to Sir Harry--But here he comes! What shall I do with him? Enter SIR HARRY BEAGLE. Sir H. Your servant, miss!--What! Not speak! Bashful, mayhap-Why then I will-Lookye, miss, I am a man of few words-What signifies haggling? It looks just like a dealer.- -What d'ye think of me for a husband?- -I am a tight young fellowsound wind and limb-free from all natural blemishes Rum all over, damme. Har. Sir, I don't understand you. Speak English, and I'll give you an answer. Sir H. English! Why so I do- and good plain English too. What d'ye think of me for a husband? That's English-e'nt it?—I know none of your French lingo, none of your parlyvoos, not I.-What d'ye think of me for a husband? The 'squire says, you shall marry me. Har. What shall I say to him? I had best bè civil. [Aside.]I think, sir, you deserve a much better wife, and beg |