vants, I was at laft affured, that Sir William Honeywood knew no fuch perfon, and I muft certainly have been impofed upon.

LOFTY.

Good; let me die; very good. Ha! ha! ha! CROAKER.

Now, for my life, I can't find out half the goodnefs of it.

LOFTY.

You can't. Ha! ha!

CROAKER.

I think it was as con

No, for the foul of me! founded a bad anfwer as ever was fent from one private gentleman to another.

LOFTY.

And so you can't find out the force of the meffage? Why, I was in the houfe at that very time. Ha ha! It was I that fent that very anfwer to my own letter. Ha! ha!

CROAKER.

Indeed! How! why!

LOFTY.

In one word, things between Sir William and me must be behind the curtain. A party has many eyes. He fides with lord Buzzard, I fide with Sir Gilbert Goose. So that unriddles the mystery.

CROAKER.

And fo it does, indeed; and all my fufpicions are

over.

LOFTY.

LOFTY.

Your fufpicions! What, then, you have been fufpecting, you have been fufpecting have you? and I were friends; we are

Mr. Croaker, you friends no longer. I fay, it's over.

As I hope for your favour I did not mean to of fend. It efcaped me. Don't be difcompofed.

LOFTY.

Zounds! Sir, but I am difcompofed, and will be difcompofed. To be treated thus! Who am I! Was it for this, I have been dreaded both by ins and outs! Have I been libelled in the Gazetteer, and praised in the St. James's? have I been chaired at Wildman's, and a fpeaker at Merchant-Taylor's Hall have I had my hand to addreffes, and my head in the print-fhops; and talk to me of fufpects?

CROAKER:

My dear Sir, be pacified. What can you have but afking pardon?

LOFTY.

Sir, I will not be pacified-Sufpects! Who am I! To be used thus! Have I paid court to men in favour, to ferve my friends; the lords of the treafury, Sir William Honeywood, and the reft of the gang, and talk to me of fufpects! Who am I, I say, who am I!

Sir WILLIAM.

Since, Sir, you are fo preffing for an anfwer, Pl tell you who you are. A gentleman, as well acquainted with politics, as with men in power; as well acquainted with perfons of fashion, as with modefty; with lords of the treasury, as with truth; and with all, as you are with Sir William Honeywood. I am Sir William Honeywood.

[Discovering his enfigns of the Bath.

So then, my confounded genius has been all this time only leading me up to the garret, in order to fling me out of the window.

CROAKER.

What, Mr. Importance, and are these your works! Sufpect you? You, who have been dreaded by the ins and outs: you, who have had your hands to addreffes, and your head ftuck up in printshops. If you were ferved right, you should have your head ftuck up in the pillory.

LOFTY.

Aye, ftick it where you will; for, by the Lord, it cuts but a very poor figure where it flicks at pre

fent.

Sir WILLIAM.

Well, Mr. Croaker, I hope you now fee how incapable this gentleman is of ferving you, and how little Mifs Richland has to expect from his influ

énce.

CROAKER.

Aye, Sir, too well I fee it; and I can't but say I have had fome boding of it thefe ten days. So, I'm refolv'd, fince my fon has placed his affections on a lady of moderate fortune, to be fatisfied with his choice, and not run the hazard of another Mr. Lofty, in helping him to a better.

Sir WILLIAM.

I approve your refolution; and here they come, to receive a confirmation of your pardon and con fent.

Enter Mrs. CROAKER, JARVIS, LEONTINE,

and OLIVIA.

Mrs. CROAKER.

Where's my hufband! Come, come, lovey, you must forgive them. Jarvis here has been to tell me the whole affair; and I fay, you must forgive them. Our own was a stolen match, you know, my dear; and we never had any reason to repent of it.

CROAKER.

Sir WILLIAM.

No, Sir, you have been obliged to a kinder, fairer friend for that favour. To Mifs Richland. Would the complete our joy, and make the man fhe has honoured by her friendship happy in her love, I fhould then forget all, and be as bleft as the welfare of my dearest kinsman can make me.

Mifs RICHLAND.

After what is paft, it would be but affectation to pretend to indifference. Yes, I will own an attachment, which, I find, was more than friendship. And, if my intreaties cannot alter his refolution to quit the country, I will even try if my hand has not power to detain him. [Giving her hand.

HONEYWOOD.

Heaven's! how can I have deferved all this? How express my happiness, my gratitude! A moment, like this, overpays an age of apprehen. fion.

CROAKER.

Well, now I fee content in every face; but Heaven fend we be all better this day three 'months!

Sir WILLIAM.

Henceforth, nephew, learn to respect yourself. He who feeks only for applaufe from without, has all his happiness in another's keeping.

Ho