Mr. H. A very harmless piece of curiosity, truly; and now, Mr. Pry, first have the goodness to leave that box with me, and then do me the favour to carry your curiosity so far, as to enquire if my servants are within. Landlord. I shall, Sir. Here, David, Jonathan,-I think I hear them coming,-shall make bold to leave you, Sir. [Exit. Mr. H. Another tolerable specimen of the comforts of going anonymous ! Enter two Footmen. 1st Footman. You speak first. 2d Footman. No, you had better speak. 1st Footman. You promised to begin. Mr. H. They have something to say to me. The rascals want their wages raised, I suppose; there is always a favour to be asked when they come smiling. Well, poor rogues, service is but a hard bargain at the best. I think I must not be close with them. Well, David-well, Jonathan. 1st Footman. We have served your honour faithfully 2d Footman. Hope your honour won't take offence Mr. H. The old story, I suppose—wages ? 1st Footman. But if your honour would just be pleased to 2d Footman. Only be pleased to— Mr. H. Be quick with what you have to say, for I am in haste. 1st Footman. Just to 2d Footman. Let us know who it is 1st Footman. Who it is we have the honour to serve. Mr. H. Why me, me, me; you serve me. 2d Footman. Yes, Sir; but we do not know who you are. Mr. H. Childish curiosity! do not you serve a rich master, a gay master, an indulgent master? 1st Footman. Ah, Sir! the figure you make is to us, your poor servants, the principal mortification. 2d Footman. When we get over a pot at the public-house, or in a gentleman's kitchen, or elsewhere, as poor servants must have their pleasures-when the question goes round, who is your master? and who do you serve? and one says, I serve Lord So-and-so, and another, I am Squire Such-a-one's footman 1st Footman. We have nothing to say for it, but that we serve Mr. H. 2d Footman. Or Squire H. Mr. H. Really you are a couple of pretty modest, reasonable personages; but I hope you will take it as no offence, gentlemen, if, upon a dispassionate review of all that you have said, I think fit not to tell you any more of my name, than I have chosen for especial purposes to communicate to the rest of the world. 1st Footman. Why then, Sir, you may suit yourself. 2d Footman. We tell you plainly, we cannot stay. 1st Footman. We don't chuse to serve Mr. H. 2d Footman. Nor any Mr. or Squire in the alphabet 1st Footman. That lives in Chris-cross Row. Mr. H. Go, for a couple of ungrateful, inquisitive, senseless rascals! Go hang, starve, or drown!-Rogues, to speak thus irreverently of the alphabet-I shall live to see you glad to serve old Q-to curl the wig of great S-adjust the dot of little i-stand behind the chair of X, Y, Z-wear the livery of Et-cætera-and ride behind the sulky of And-by-itself-and! [Exit in a rage. END OF THE FIRST ACT. ACT II. SCENE. A handsome Apartment well lighted, Tea, Cards, &c.-A large party of Ladies and Gentlemen, among them MELESINDA. 1st Lady. I wonder when the charming man will be here. 2d Lady. He is a delightful creature! Such a polish 3d Lady. Such an air in all that he does or says 4th Lady. Yet gifted with a strong understanding 5th Lady. But has your ladyship the remotest idea of what his true name is ? 1st Lady. They say, his very servants do not know it. His French valet, that has lived with him these two years 2d Lady. There, Madam, I must beg leave to set you right my coachman 1st Lady. I have it from the very best authority: my footman 2d Lady. Then, Madam, you have set your servants on-——— 1st Lady. No, Madam, I would scorn any such little mean ways of coming at a secret. For my part, I don't think any secret of that consequence. 2d Lady. That's just like me; I make a rule of troubling my head with nobody's business but my own. Melesinda. But then, she takes care to make every body's business her own, and so to justify herself that way— (aside.) ful. 1st Lady. My dear Melesinda, you look thought Melesinda. Nothing. 2d Lady. Give it a name. Melesinda. Perhaps it is nameless. |