Arch. Then I must kill the villain, to have him out of the way. Gib. Hold! hold! sir; we are but three, upon my honour. Arch. Scrub, will you undertake to secure him? Arch. Run to Gipsey's chamber; there you'll find the doctor; bring him hither presently. [Exit SCRUB, running.] Come, rogue, if you have a short prayer, say it. Gib. Sir, I have no prayer at all; the government has provided a chaplain to say prayers for us on these. occasions. Mrs. Sul. Pray, sir, don't kill him: You fright me as much as him. Arch. The dog shall die, madam, for being the occasion of my disappointment.-Sirrah, this moment is your last. Gib. Sir, I'll give you two hundred pounds to spare my life. Arch. Have you no more, rascal ? Gib. Yes, sir, I can command four hundred; but I must reserve two of them to save my life at the sessions. Enter SCRUB and FOIGARd. Arch. Here, doctor: I suppose Scrub and you, between you, may manage him:- -Lay hold of him. [FOIGARD lays hold of GIBBET. Gib. What! turned over to the priest alreadyLookye, doctor, you come before your time; I an't condemned yet, I thank ye. Foig. Come, my dear joy, I vil secure your body and your shoul too; I will make you a good catholic, and give you an absolution. Gib. Absolution! Can you procure me a pardon, doctor? Foig. No, joy. Gib. Then devil. you and your Arch. Convey him into the cellar, there bind him: -Take the pistol, and if he offers to resist, shoot him through the head,—and come back to us with all the speed you can. Scrub. Ay, ay; come, doctor, do you hold him fast, and I'll guard him. [Exeunt SCRUB, GIBBET, and FOIGARD. Mrs. Sul. But how came the doctor? Arch. In short, madam [Shrieking without.] 'Sdeath! the rogues are at work with the other ladies: -I'm vexed I parted with the pistol; but I must fly to their assistance-Will you stay here, madam, or venture yourself with me? Mrs. Sul. Oh, with you, dear sir, with you. [Takes him by the Arm, and exeunt, SCENE III. Another Apartment. Enter HOUNSLOW and BAGSHOT, with Swords drawn, dragging in LADY BOUNTIFUL and DORINDA. Houns. Come, come, your jewels, mistress. Enter AIMWell. Aim. Turn this way, villains; I durst engage an army in such a cause. [He engages them both. Enter ARCHER and MRS. SULLEN. Arch. Hold! hold! my lord; every man his bird, pray. [They engage Man to Man; the Rogues are thrown down, and disarmed. Arch. Shall we kill the rogues? Aim. No, no; we'll bind them. Arch. Ay, ay; here, madam, lend me your garter. [To MRS. SULLEN, who stands by him. Mrs. Sul. The devil's in this fellow; he fights, loves, and banters all in a breath: here's a rope, that the rogues brought with them, I suppose. Arch. Right, right, the rogue's destiny, a rope to hang himself- Come, my lord, this is but a scandalous sort of an office, [Binding the ROGUES together.] if our adventure should end in this sort of hangmanwork; but I hope there is something in prospect that- Enter SCRUB. Well, Scrub, have you secured your Tartar? Scrub. Yes, sir, I left the priest and him disputing about religion. Aim. And pray carry these gentlemen to reap the benefit of the controversy. [Delivers the PRISONERS to SCRUB, who leads them out. Mrs. Sul. Pray, sister, how came my lord here? Dor. And pray, how came the gentleman here? Mrs. Sul. I'll tell you the greatest piece of villainy[They talk in dumb Show. Aim. I fancy, Archer, you have been more successful in your adventure than the housebreakers. Arch. No matter for my adventure, yours is the principal- -Press her this minute to marry you, now while she's hurried between the palpitation of her fear, and the joy of her deliverance, now while -throw the tide of her spirits are at high-flood: yourself at her feet, speak some romantic nonsense or other; confound her senses, bear down her reason, and away with her:-The priest is now in the cellar, and dare not refuse to do the work. Aim. But how shall I get off without being observed ? Arch. You a lover, and not find a way to get off! -Let me see. Aim.. You bleed, Archer. Arch. 'Sdeath, I'm glad on't; this wound will do the business--I'll amuse the old lady and Mrs. Sullen about dressing my wound, while you carry off Dorinda. Lady B. Gentlemen, could we understand how you would be gratified for the services Arch. Come, come, my lady, this is no time for compliments; I'm wounded, madam. Lady B. and Mrs. Sul. How! wounded! Dor. I hope, sir, you have received no hurt? [Makes love in dumb Show. Lady B. Let me see your arm, sir—I must have O me! an some powder sugar, to stop the bloodugly gash; upon my word, sir, you must go into bed. Arch. Ay, my lady, a bed would do very wellMadam [To MRS. SULLEN.] will you do me the fayour to conduct me to a chamber? Lady B. Do, do, daughter,while I get the lint, and the probe, and plaister ready. [Runs out one Way; ArMWELLcarries off DORINDA another. Arch. Come, madam, why don't you obey your mother's commands? Mrs. Sul. How can you, after what is past, have the confidence to ask me? Arch. And if you go to that, how can you, after E life what is past, have the confidence to deny me?- Mrs. Sul. 'Tis ungenerous in you, sir, to upbraid me with your services. Arch. 'Tis ungenerous in you, madam, not to reward them. Mrs. Sul. How! at the expense of my honour! Arch. Honour! Can honour consist with ingratitude? If you would deal like a woman of honour, do like a man of honour; d'ye think I would deny you in such a case? Enter GIPSEY. Gip. Madam, my lady ordered me to tell you, that your brother is below at the gate. Mrs. Sul. My brother! Heavens be praised :-Sir, he shall thank you for your services; he has it in his power. Arch. Who is your brother, madam? Mrs. Sul. Sir Charles Freeman:—— me, sir; I must go and receive him. -You'll excuse [Exit. Arch. Sir Charles Freeman! 'Sdeath and hell! My old acquaintance. Now, unless Aimwell has made good use of his time, all our fair machine goes souse into the sea, like an Eddistone. [Exit. |