love! I'll protect you.--But now I must desire you to follow my directions. Enter LORD TRINKET. Lord T. Now, madam.-Pox on't, he here again! Nay, then, [drawing,] come, sir! You're unarmed, Give up the lady: give her up, I say, or I am through you in a twinkling. I see. [Going to make a pass at CHARLES. Charles. Keep your distance, my lord! I have arms. [Producing a pistol.] If you come a foot nearer, you have a brace of balls through your lordship's head. Lord T. How? what's this? pistols! Charles. At your lordship's service.--Sword and pistol, my lord.--Those, you know, are our weapons. -If this misses, I have the fellow to it in my pocket. -Don't be frightened, madam. His lordship has removed your friends and relations, but he will take great care of you. Shall I leave you with him? Har. Cruel Charles! you know I must go with you, now. Charles. A little way from the door, if your lordship pleases. [Waving his hand. Lord T. Sir!-'Sdeath!-Madam -! Charles. A little more round, my lord. [Waving. Lord T. But, sir!-Mr. Oakly! Charles. I have no leisure to talk with your lordship now. A little more that way, if you please. [Waving.]—You know where I live.—If you have any commands for Miss Russet, you will hear of her too at my house. Nay, keep back my lord. [Presenting.] Your lordship's most obedient humble servant. [Exit with HARriet. Lord T. [Looking after them, and pausing for a short time.]I cut a mighty ridiculous figure here, 'pon honour. So I have been concerting this deep scheme, merely to serve him.-Oh, the devil take such intrigues, and all silly country girls, that can give up a man of quality and figure, for a fellow that nobody knows. [Exit. ACT V. Scene I-Lady Freelove's House. Enter LORD TRInket, Lady FreeLove, with a letter, and CAPTAIN O'Cutter. Lord T. Was ever any thing so unfortunate! Plague on't, Captain, how could you make such a strange blunder? O'Cut. I never tought of a blunder. I was to daliver two letters, and if I gave them one apiece, I thought it would do. Lady F. And so, my lord, the ingenious Captain gave the letter intended for me to young Oakly, and hère has brought me a challenge. Lord Ť. Ridiculous! Never was any thing so malapropos.Did you read the direction, Captain? O'Cut. Who, me !· -Devil burn me, not I. I never rade at all. Lord T. 'Sdeath! how provoking! When I had secured the servants, and got all the people out of the way-When every thing was en train. Lady F. Nay, never despair, my lord! I've hit upon a method to set every thing to right again. Lord T. How? how? my dear Lady Freelove, how ? Lady F. Suppose then your lordship was to go and deliver these country gentlemen from their confinement; make them believe it was a plot of young Oakly's to carry off my niece; and so make a merit of services with the father. your own Lord T. Admirable! I'll about it immediately. O'Cut. Has your lordship any occasion for my sarvice in this expedition? Lord T. O no:-Only release me these people. and then keep out of the way, dear Captain. O'Cut. With all my heart, 'fait. But you are all wrong:-this will not signify a brass farding. If you would let me alone, I would give him a salt eel, I warrant you. -But upon my credit, there's noting to be [Exit. done, without a little tilting. Lord T. But where shall I carry them, when I have delivered them? Lady F. To Mr. Oakly's, by all means. be sure my niece is there. Lord T. To Mr. Oakly's! You may -Why, does your lady ship consider? 'Tis going directly in the fire of the enemy-throwing the dementi full in their teeth. Lady F. So much the better. Face your enemies :nay, you shall outface them too. No, no,——positively, my lord, you must battle it out. Lord T. Well, I'll go, 'pon honour--and if I could depend on your ladyship as a corps de reserve— Lady F. I'll certainly meet you there. You may depend on me. [Exit LORD TRINKET.]-So, here is fine work! this artful little hussy has been too much for us all. Well, what's to be done? Why, when a woman of fashion gets into a scrape, nothing but a fashionable assurance can get her out of it again. I'll e'en go boldly to Mr. Oakly's, as I have promised, and if it appears practicable, I will forward Lord Trinket's match; but if I find, that matters have taken another turn, his lordship must excuse me. In that case I'll fairly drop him, seem a perfect stranger to all his intentions, and give my visit an air of congratulation to my niece and any other husband, which fortune, her wise father, or her ridiculous self has provided for her. [Exit. Scene II.-Mrs. Oakly's Dressing Room. Enter MRS. OAKLY. Mrs. Oak. This is worse and worse!--He never held me so much in contempt before.- -To go out without speaking to me, or taking the least notice.I am obliged to the Major for this.- -How could he take him out? and him? how could Mr. Oakly go with Enter TOILET. Mrs. Oak. Well, Toilet. Toil. My master is not come back yet, ma'am. Toil. I don't know, I can assure your ladyship. Mrs. Oak. Why don't you know?-You know nothing. But I warrant you know well enough, if you would tell. You shall never persuade me but you knew of Mr. Oakly's going out to-day. Toil. I wish I may die, ma'am, upon my honour, and I protest to your ladyship, I knew nothing in the world of the matter, no more than the child unborn. There is Mr. Paris, my master's gentleman, knows— Mrs. Oak. What does he know? Toil. That I knew nothing at all of the matter. Mrs. Oak. Bid him come here. Toil. Yes, ma'am. [Exit. Mrs. Oak. He is certainly gone after this young flirt. -His confidence and the Major's insolence provoke me beyond expression. Enter TOILET and PARIS. Where's your master? Par. Il est sorti. He is gone out. Mrs. Oak. Where is he gone? Par. Ah, madame, je n'en scai rien. I know nothing of it. Mrs. Oak. Nobody knows any thing. Why did not you tell me he was going out? Par. I dress him-Je ne m'en soucie pas du plus-He go where he will-I have no bisness with it. Mrs. Oak. Yes, you should have told me your business that was -and if you don't mind your business better, you shan't stay here, I can tell you, sir. Par. Voila! quelque chose d'extraordinaire ! Mrs. Oak. Don't stand jabbering and shrugging your shoulders, but go, and inquire-go—and bring me word where he is gone. Par. I don't know what I am do. John Mrs. Oak. Bid John come to me. my ladi. I'll ask -speak [Exit. Mrs. Oak. Impudent fellow! His insolent gravity and indifference is insupportable Toil. Ma'am ! Toilet! Mrs. Oak. Where's John? Why don't he come? Why do you stand with your hands before you? Why don't you fetch him? Toil. Yes, ma'am, I'll go this minute.John! my lady wants you. Enter JOHN. Mrs. Dak. Where's your master? John. Gone out, madam. Mrs. Oak. Why did not you go with him? O here, John. Because he went out in the Major's chariot, madam. Mrs. Oak. Where did they go to? John. To the Major's, I suppose, madam. |