Hear nevertheless my defence-My actions are all the result of love. And culpable as I may seem, my conscience does not reproach me with Miss Alton. Oh, my lord, I readily believe you-You are above its reproaches-qualities, that are infamous and fatal, in one class of life, create applause and conscientious satisfaction in another. Lord G. Infamous and fatal qualities! What means my lovely accuser? Miss Alton. That to steal or stab is death in common life but when one of your lordship's degree sets his hard heart upon the destruction of a woman, how glorious is his success! How consummate his triumph, when he can follow the theft of her affections by the murder of her honour. Enter MISS ALSCRIP, softly behind. Miss Als. I wonder how it goes on. Miss Als. Adorable! Ay, I thought how 'twould be! Miss Als. Not a word, if she knows her business. Miss Alton. My lord! I have heard too much. Miss Als. Bravo! I could not have played it better myself. Lord G. Oh! still more charming than severe. [Kneels. Miss Als. Humph! I hope he means me, though. Lord G. The character in which you see me here, makes me appear more odious to myself, if possible, than I am to you. Miss Als. [Behind.] By all that's treacherous, I doubt it. Miss Alton. Desist, my lord- -Miss Alscrip has a claim Miss Als. Ay, now for it. Lord G. By heaven, she is my aversion. It is my family, on whom I am dependent, that has betrayed me into these cursed addresses.-Accept my contritionpity a wretch struggling with the complicated torments of passion, shame, penitence, and despair. Miss Als. [Comes forward—all stand confused.] I never saw a part better doubled in my life! Lord G. Confusion! What a light do I appear in to them both! How shall I redeem myself even in my own opinion? Miss Als. [Looking at LORD GAYVILLE.] Expressive dignity!-[Looking at MISS ALTON.] Sweet simplicity! Amiable diffidence!" She should execute my commands most awkwardly." Lord G. [Aside.] There is but one way.-[To MISS ALSCRIP.] Madam, your sudden entrance has effected a discovery which with shame I confess ought to have been made before. The lady, who stands there, is in possession of my heart. If it is a crime to adore her, I am the most guilty wretch on earth.-Pardon me if you can; my sincerity is painful to me.-But in this crisis it is the only atonement I can offer. [Bows, and exit. Miss Als. [After a pause.] Admirable !-Perfect!— The most finished declaration, I am convinced, that ever was made from beggarly nobility to the woman that was to make his fortune.-The lady, who stands therethe lady Madam-I am in patient expectation for the sincerity of your ladyship's atonement. Miss Alton. I am confounded at the strange occur, rences that have happened; but be assured you see in me an innocent and most unwilling rival. Miss Als. Rival! better and better !-You-you give me uneasiness? You moppet-you coquet of the sidetable to catch the gawkey heir of the family, when he comes from school at Christmas.-You-you-you vile seducer of my good old honoured father. [Cries.—In a passion again.] What, is my lady dumb? Hussy! have you the insolence to hold your tongue ? Miss Alton. Madam, I just now offered to justify this scene; I thought it the part of duty to myself, and repect to you. But your behaviour has now left but one sentiment upon my mind. Miss Als. And what is that, madam? Miss Alton. With pointed expression.] Scorn. [Exit. Miss Als. Was there ever any thing like this before? and to a woman of my fortune?—I to be robbed of a lover-and that a poor lord too-I'll have the act revived against witchcraft; I'll have the minx tried-I'll -I'll—I'll Scene III.-Alscrip's Room of Business. ALSCRIP and RIGHTLY. [Exit. Rightly. Upon all these matters, Mr. Alscrip, I am authorized by my client, Sir Clement Flint, to agree. There remains nothing but your favouring me with the inspection of the Charlton title-deeds, and your daughter's settlements may be engrossed. Alscrip. I cannot conceive, my friend Rightly, any such inspection to be requisite. Have not I been in constant quiet possession ? Rightly. Sir Clement insists upon it. Alscrip. A client insist! and you, an old practitioner, suffer such a demur to your infallibility!-Ah! in my practice I had the sure means of disappointing such dabblers and divers into their own cases. Rightly. How, pray ? Alscrip. I read his writings to him myself.-I was the best reader in Chancery-lane for setting the understanding at defiance-drew breath but once in a quarter of an hour, always in the wrong place, and made a single sentence of six skins of parchment.-Shall I give you a specimen ? Rightly. [Smiling.] I have no doubt of your talent. Alscrip. Then return to Sir Clement, and follow my example. Rightly. No, Mr. Alscrip; though I acknowledge your skill, I do not subscribe to your doctrine. The English law is the finest system of ethics, as well as government, that ever the world produced, and it cannot be too generally understood. Alscrip. Law understood! Zounds! would you destroy the profession? Rightly. No, I would raise it. Had every man of sense the knowledge of the theory, to which he is competent; the practice would revert to the purity of its institution, maintain the rights, and not promote the knavery, of mankind. Alscrip. [Aside] Plaguy odd maxims!--Sure he means to try me.- -[To him.] Brother Rightly, we know the world, and are alone-I have locked the door. [In a half whisper. Rightly. A very useless precaution. I have not a principle nor a proceeding that I would not proclaim at Charing Cross. Alscrip. [Aside.] No! then I'll pronounce you the most silly, or the most impudent fellow of the fraternity. Rightly. But where are these writings? You can have no difficulty in laying your hand upon them, for I perceive you keep things in a distinguished regularity. Alscrip. Yes, I have distinct repositories for all papers, and especially title-deeds.—Some in drawers—some in closets-[Aside.] and a few under ground. Miss Als. [Rattling at the door.] What makes you lock the door, sir? I must speak to you this instant. Alscrip. One moment, child, and I'll be ready for you. [Turning again to RIGHTLY, as to dissuade him. Rightly. [Coolly.] If the thoughts of the wedding-day make any part of the young lady's impatience, you take a bad way, Mr. Alscrip, to satisfy it; for I tell you plainly, our business cannot be completed till I see these writings. sticks to his scent. Alscrip. [Aside.] Confound the old hound-how he [MISS ALSCRIP still at the door. Alscrip. I am coming, I tell you. [Opens a bureau in a confused hurry, shuffles papers about, puts one into RIGHTLY's hand.] There, if this whim must be indulged, step into the next room. You, who know the material parts of a parchment lie in a nut-shell, will look it over in ten minutes. [Puts him into another room. Miss Als. I won't wait another instant, whatever you are about.-Let me in Alscrip. [Opening the door.] Sex and vehemence! What is the matter now? Enter MISS ALSCRIP, in the most violent emotion. Miss Als. So, sir; yes, sir; you have done finely by me indeed, you are a pattern for fathers-a precious match you had provided! [Walking about. Alscrip. What the devil's the matter? Miss Als. [Running on.] I, that with 50,000 independent pounds, left myself in a father's hands-a thing unheard of, and waited for a husband with unparalleled patience till I was of age— Alscrip. What the devil's the matter? Miss Als. [Following him about.] I, that at fourteen might have married a French marquis-my governess told me he was, for all he was her brother Alscrip. 'Gad a mercy, governess Miss Als. And as for commoners, had not I the choice of the market? And the handsome Irish Colonel at Bath, that had carried off six heiresses before, for himself and friends, and would have found his way to Gretna-green blindfold! Alscrip. [Aside.] 'Gad, I wish you were there now, with all my heart.-What the devil is at the bottom of all this? |