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.

"What! How! there

Sir John. Codso-Codso"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 ima ginable, 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 must 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

"face. Look as if your power gave authority to " your actions, and you were really what you appear “only.”---See, see, Sir John moves towards you.

Lurch. Sir John, your most obedient; I am infi. nitely obliged to you for the favours I have received ---I am sorry my affairs oblige me to leave you so

soon.

Sir John. You cover me with blushes---Yet your grace will, you must do me the honour to take a short homely meal before you travel. Lurch. I roll away thirty miles before dinner, Sir. Sir John. Just snatch a bit, as they say---What, Robin! Tim!

Lurch. I shall run away abruptly, if you press me. Sir John. If your grace will have it so-----Yet let me perish, my lord, if I know how to look your grace in the face about the business of last night--'Tis presumption in me to ask forgiveness.

Lurch. I forgive you from my soul, Sir John: upon my honour I do; I am sensible how much you suffer every way.

Sir John. Then I remain to the extremest moment of this frail life your grace's humble debtor.

Lurch. I fear, Sir John, I shall be obliged to trespass upon your faith for the credit of some ready mo. ney to carry me home; this accident has quite unfurnished me, it seems.

[Enter Longbottom, who whispers Vultur. Sir John. Your grace may command me entirely, and I am proud

Vult. My lord, John came in just now to tell me, that as they were about to pack up the strong box they found all your grace's money within it. [To Lurcher. • Lurch. How! I am surprised; indeed! the money

within it!

Vult. Only the species changed, and one hundred pounds in silver more instead of gold.

Lurch. How! I can hardly believe it! what, are we in fairy land here, Sir John?

[Vultur whispers Lurcher. Sir John. I am afraid Timothy did not take due [Aside.

care.

Lurch. I suspected it, truly---Sir John, this is unkind---my servant tells me your steward was observed to place the money there, and when he was examined, said he did it by your order---You see I would make use of my credit with you: I should not have been put to any inconvenience by my lodging here---generous Sir John-Well, since it is so, give me leave, however, to give you security for the money, and three months hence, when I return from the north, I'll call and repay you.

Sir John. By no means, you confound me, you kill me with confusion; what, is not your grace's honour sufficient?

Lurch. But we are all mortal, you know.

Sir John. Dear your grace, excuse me

Dear

your grace, spare me.

Lurch. Well, Sir, I am your humble debtor; if ever

you come to court again