ther they did not see or regard me sist your worship. -Pray let me as Sir John. Would I had lain in the garret too---But nothing afflicts me so much, honest Geometrical, as the affront in binding his grace. Ah, that cuts my heart. [Vultur loosing Sir John.] So, so; very well, very well. How shall I approach my Lord ? I am not able to look him in the face. Enter LURCHER, with his hands bound, as from his chamber. Lurch. Who's there? Sir John. Good-morrow to your grace. Lurch. Good-morrow, Sir John; I would give you my hand, but I can't command it. I suppose, Sir, this is the courtesy of the country. [Sir John unbinds him. Sir John. Alas, alas, this grieves me more than all, to see your grace thus uncourteously used. Lurch. Can you guess who they may be, Sir John! Sir John. I don't know, an' it please your grace--but sure they were the most ungentleman-like thieves Lurch. These fellows were some who know and use your house, I warrant. Sir John. Very like, very like! Well, well, this comes of keeping open house. Lurch. I made myself known to one of them, and gave him my honour I would not discover him. Sir John. You did, my Lord? Lurch. Yes; and do you think the insolent slave would trust me upon my word? Sir John. He would not? Lurch. No, faith, he asked my pardon; he told me lords' promises were mortal, and commonly died in the birth, or soon after. "How terribly Sir John. Insupportable villains! "they belched out oaths, my Lord! Did you observe "the whiskers of the red-nosed fellow ? "Lurch. Ay, very well; they were loaded with gunpowder instead of snuff; I expected every mo"ment to see them take fire at his red nose, and blow "his head off his shoulders. "Sir John. Ha, ha! your grace is pleasant. “ Lurch. To be plain, I fear you fared the worse "for me; they had certainly some notice of my be"ing here. "Sir John. Ah, my good Lord Duke! I am sure your grace fared the worse. Does not your grace feel a little oddly about the brawn of your "wrist? "Lurch. Yes, Sir, a sort of numbness 46 gament, Sir John, stopped the circulation. -the li "Sir John. Confound them! if I meet with the "rascals, it will be my turn, my lord, to stop the "circulation." Vult. I am sorry your grace has lost Sir John. Hush, hush. Lurch. What have I lost? Speak! [To Lurcher. [To Vult. aside. [To Vult. Vult. Your rest, my lord, this troublesome night. Lurch. That's true; no matter. My clothes there. I'll into my chamber and dress, and wait on you immediately, Sir John. [Exit: [Sir John stops Vultur as he is following him. Sir John. Harkee, friend, what has thy lord duke lost? Speak softly. Vult. No more than his grace may easily spare. Sir John. That is not the thing. Pray tell me. Vult. Since your worship will needs know, they took about three hundred pieces of gold, and one hundred pounds in silver, or thereabouts, out of his Grace's strong box. Sir John. Codso-Codso "What! How! there "is but one way-it must be done."-Ay, ay-my honour is concerned.-I charge you, I command you don't let his grace know it-Pray bid my steward Timothy come to me; 'tis fit I repair him. What in my house! Enter TIMOTHY. Tim. So please your worship, Thomas Maunder hath sent your worship the two hundred pounds for the renewing of his lease. Sir John. Villains! traitors Tim. And John Budge hath paid his Martlemas rent in arrear, and sent your worship the turkies. Sir John. Coxcomb, to trouble me with business Come hither, Timothy, what have I lost in this scurvy affair here? now. Tim. Really, upon the strictest inquisition I cannot find that your worship has lost the value of one single sixpence in the whole affair. Sir John. What dost thou say? I am amazed. Tim. 'Tis truth.--upon a second casting I find all my cash is numerically the same as it was last night--and Doublejugg hath all his plate I can assure your worship; there is not a tea-spoon missing---I believe their design was wholly upon his grace. Sir John. Poltroons! ragamuffins! as if their whole scheme was purposely to affront him, and him only "My house too! Codso, I am so perplexed I "know not what to do." Why it looks, Timothy, as if I were in the plot. Harkee, Timothy, what ready money is there in the house? Tim. Three hundred pounds in silver, and two hundred pounds in gold. Sir John. I could wish you had three hundred pounds in gold---Well, well, we must make shift. Do you hear, take the two hundred pieces of gold and two hundred pounds in silver presently, and watch carefully--carefully, I say, for an opportunity to slip it into his grace's strong box privately; tho', Timothy, you must do it privately. Tim. What would your worship slip it into his Grace's strong box did you say? What must I slip? Sir John. The money, oaf, the money, I say; the same sum to a farthing. I charge you let no creature see you. Tim. Give me leave, in the shortest method imaginable, to reason this affair. Sir John. Codso! let me have you do it instantly -What the good year Tim. I say only that your worship has lost something that I did not apprehend before, and that is your senses. Sir John. Impudent varlet; do it, or I'll turn your mathematical countenance out of my doors this moment- -[Exit Timothy.] "In truth, in very truth, "it nnist be done, and it shall be done, though I sell my whole estate---'tis fit he should be repaired This is the most happy opportunity." What, in my house! Enter LURCHER and VULTUR. Lurch. I overheard him just now; he ordered his steward to place that sum in my strong box, in the room of what he supposed I had lost. Vult. He did so, the same exactly, only more silver than gold. Lurch. He prevents my wishes; anticipates my designs. This old gentleman has a generous mind, and however he is disposed to me, there's something great and open in his character. This manner of treatment makes me even disrelish the success of my enterprise---Ha, here he comes, I tremble at the sight of him now. Vult. Collect yourself, man, remember your "character, harden your face in the fire of your im"pudence: let not a muscle start, nor a drop of "blood steal from your heart to tell tales in your |