two minutes. Do, sweet sir, I'll down on my knees

to you.

Bev. I must know who it is. Come, dispose of me as you will. If this should be Belinda! [Exit.

Tat. Heavens bless you, sir, for this goodness! I'll lock the door, to make sure work of it. I was never so frightened in my life.

Enter SIR JOHN and a person masked.

[Exit.

Sir John. Mrs. Marmalet, I am obliged to you for this favour. I wanted a word or two with you. Mask. So Robert informed me, sir.

Sir John. Did he tell you my business?

Mask. No, sir.

:

Sir John. Lookye, then if you will gratify me in what I shall ask, you may command any thing. Now you may be uncovered.

Mask. La! sir-I hear a noise: I am afraid somebody's coming: I shall be seen.

Sir John. Hush! no; there's nobody. If you will indulge me on this occasion, I am yours for ever. Here, here is a purse of money for you.

Mask. But if this should come to the knowledge of your lady, I am ruined and undone.

Sir John. No, no; I'll take care of you.

Mask. Will you, sir?

Sir John. I will. But come; let me remove this

from your face.

Mask. But somebody may come.

Sir John. I'll lock the door.-There, now we are safe.

Mask. But, in a little time, you'll make with your lady, and I shall be ruined.

up

all quarrels

Sir John. No, no, never fear; I shall never be reconciled to her ;-I hate her; I detest her.

Lady R. Do you so, sir? [Unmasking.] Now, Sir John, what can you say now, sir?

Sir John. My Lady Restless!Confusion!-what shall I say?

Lady R. O, Sir John! Sir John! what evasion have you now, sir? Can you deny your guilt any longer?

Sir John. That villain Robert has betrayed me.-If you will but have patience, this matter shall be explained.

Lady R. Explained, sir?

Sir John. Yes, my dear, explained, and

Lady R. My dear, too!—the assurance of you!

Sir John. I say my dear, for I still regard you; and this was all done to-to-cure you

of

all done to cure you of your jealousy.

your jealousy :

'Lady R. A fine way you have taken!

Sir John. Yes, yes; all to convince you how groundless your suspicions are; and then we shall live very happy together.

Lady R. Ay! And do you think to deny every thing, even in the face of conviction?-Base, base man! -I'll go this moment, and write to my brother.

Sir John. Now you talk wildly. This is all raving; -you make yourself very ridiculous; you do indeed. I had settled all this on purpose, and contrived that it should come to your ears, and then I knew you would do just as you have done ;-and-then-I-I resolved to do just as I have done;-only to hint to you, that listeners seldom hear any good of themselves; and to show you how wrong it is to be too suspicious, my dear. Was it not well done?—Ha, ha, ha!

Lady R. And do you laugh at me too, sir? Make me your sport? I'll go and get pen and ink this mo

ment.

Sir John. Oh! do so, ma'am; do so- -ha! ha! you'll only expose yourself: go and write, madam-ha! ha!

ha!

Lady R. I will, sir. [Going.] The door is locked. This won't succeed, sir. I suppose you have the key.

Ay! I'll lay my life you have, and some one or other of your creatures is locked in there.

Sir John. There, again! This is of a piece with all your vain surmises. Ha! ha! you are mighty silly, indeed you are.

Lady R. I will search that closet. I am determined I will.

Sir John. Do so, ma'am, do so.

but laugh at her.

Ha ha! I can't

Lady R. I'll have the door broke open, if you won't give me the key.

Sir John. Ha! ha! ha!-How you expose yourself. Lady R. Will you give me the key, sir?

Sir John. Ha! ha! ha! it is too ridiculous! Lady R. Mighty well, sir. Tattle!—who waits there? I will find out all your artifices. Tattle, I say.

Enter TATTLE.

Do you know any thing of the key of that closet, Tattle?

Tat. The key, ma'am! I have it, maʼam.

Lady R. Give it to me,

Tat. That is, I have it not, ma'am. Don't have it, ma'am, don't ask for it.

[Aside to her. Lady R. Don't ask for it! but I will have it. Give me the key this instant.

Sir John. How! is she not willing to give it? There is something in this, then. Give the key this moment, you jade, give it to me.

Lady R. You sha'n't have it, sir. What, you want to hinder me! give the key to me.

Tat. Dear heart! I have lost it, ma'am.-Better not have it, ma'am.

Sir John. Give it to me this moment, I say.
Tat. The devil is in it! there it is then.

Lady R. Now, sir, we shall see who you have.

[Aside.

Let me

[Exit.

Sir John. Ay, now search, if you will.

[Laughing at her. Lady R. [Unlocking the door.] You shall be found out, I promise you-Oh!

Bev. Madam

Enter BEVERLEY.

[Screams.

[Bows to her.

Sir John. By all that's false, here he is again! Lady R. What, in the name of wonder, brings you bere, sir?

ness.

Sir John. Oh, madam! you know his business, and I know his business; and the gentleman knows his busiThere he is, ma'am ! there is the gentleman waiting for you; true to his appointment, you see. Sir, your humble servant. My Lady Restless, your humble servant. Is the case plain now?

Lady R. I am in amaze! I don't know what to make of this.

Bev. Sir, however odd this may appear

Sir John. Ay! now settle it between yourselves: give it what turn you will, sir, she will confirm it. You need not be afraid, sir; you will agree in your story; she is quick of invention, and I dare say you are pretty quick too!

Bev. Sir, I must beg you will put no forced construction upon this matter.

Sir John. And you beg the same, maʼam, don't you? Bev. Sir, I beg to be heard. My business here is, to desire you will return me the picture which you have in your possession; it is now become dear to me, sir. Sir John. I dare say it is.

Bev. And must be returned.

Sir John. It is of equal value to me. It shall rise in evidence against you both.

Lady R. Evidence against me! explain yourself. How did you get in here? What's your business? What brought you hither? What's your errand?

Sir John. Ay, sir, speak; how did you get in here? What's your business? What brought you hither ? What's your errand ?

Bev. Vexation! I am beset by them both at once. Sir John. Ay, sir, explain.

Bev. Sir, if you will give me leave, I will satisfy you entirely. I assure you, sir, and you too, ma'am, that the liberty I have taken with your closet is entirely owing to your maid Tattle.

Sir John. The jade! I don't doubt it, sir.

Bev. To prevent, if possible, the interpretation now put upon seeing me in this house.

Sir John. And it was well contrived, sir. Oh, my Lady Restless!

Lady R. By all that's just, I knew nothing of it.
Bev. Nothing, upon my honour, sir.

Sir John. Oh! I knew you would both agree.

Beo. As I am a gentleman, I tell you the real fact. Sir John. You need not, sir: I know the real fact. Bev. I have no time to lose in frivolous altercation: I must now desire the picture, directly.

Sir John. I wish you a good evening.

Bev. I shall not stir without it. I should be glad you would comply without a quarrel. I must be obliged

to

Sir John. Ay, now her prize-fighter begins! [Aside.] -I desire you will quit my house, sir.

Bed. I am not to be trifled with. If you don't return it by fair means, I shall be forced to draw.

Sir John. There again, now! she has set him on to cut my throat: but I will disappoint her. She is a worthless woman, and I won't fight about her. There, sir, there is your trinket. I shall have proof sufficient without it.

Beo. Upon my honour, sir, you will have no proof of any transgression of mine. If you suspect your