(which does them infinite honour) his goods or chattels may be Sir Luke. Seized upon when they can find them; but he lives in ready furnish'd lodgings, and hires his coach by the month. Serj. Nay, if the sheriff return "non inven tus" Sir Luke. A pox o'your law, you make me lose sight of my story. One morning, a Welch coachmaker came with his bill to my lord, whose name was unluckily Lloyd. My lord had the man up. You are call'd, I think, Mr. Lloyd?-At your lordship's service, my lord.What, Lloyd with an L-It was with an L indeed, my lord.-Because in your part of the world I have heard that Lloyd and Floyd were synonimous, the very same names. Very often indeed, my lord.But you always spell your's with an L-Always. -That, Mr. Lloyd, is a little unlucky; for you must know I am now paying by debts alphabetically, and in four or five years you might have come in with an F; but I am afraid I can give you no hopes for your L.-Ha, ha, ha! Enter a Servant. Serv. There was no overtaking the servant. Sir Luke. That is unlucky: tell my lord I'll attend him. I'll call on sir Gregory myself. -- [Exit Servant. Serj. Why, you won't leave us, sir Luke? Sir Luke. Pardon, dear Serjeant and Charlotta ; have a thousand things to do for half a million of people positively; promised to procure a husband for lady Cicely Sulky, and match a coach-horse for brigadier Whip; after that, must run into the city to borrow a thousand for young At-all at Almack's; send a Cheshire cheese by the stage to sir Timothy Tankard in Suffolk; and get at the Herald's Office a coat of arms to clap on the coach of Billy Ben gal, a nabob newly arrived: so you see I have not a moment to lose. True, true. Serj At your toilet to-morrow you mayEnter a Servant abruptly, and runs against sir Luke. Can't you see where you are running, you rascal! Serv. Sir, his grace the duke of Sir Luke. Grace!-Where is he?-Where-Serv. In his coach at the door.-If you an't better engaged would be glad of your company to go into the city, and take a dinner at Dolly's. Sir Luke. In his own coach did you say ? Serv. Yes, sir. Sir Luke. With the coronets-or Serv. I believe so. Sir Luke. There's no resisting of that.-Bid Joe run to sir Gregory Goose's. Serv. He is already gone to alderman Inkle's. Sir Luke. Then do you step to the knighthey!-no-you must go to my lord's-hold, hold, no-I have it-Step first to sir Greg's, then pop in at lord Brentford's just as the company are going to dinner. Serv. What shall I say to sir Gregory? Sir Luke. Any thing-what I told you before. Serv. And what to my lord? Sir Luke. What!-Why tell him that my uncle from Epsom-no-that won't do, for he knows I don't care a farthing for him-hey-Why tell him-hold I have it-Tell him, that as I was going into my chair to obey his commands, I was arrested by a couple of bailiffs, forced into a hackney coach, and carried to the Pied Bull in the Borough; I beg ten thousand pardons for making his grace wait, but his grace knows my misfor[Exeunt sir Luke and Servant. Char. Well, sir, what dy'e think of the proofs ? I flatter myself I have pretty well established my case. Serj. Why, hussy, you have hit upon points; but then they are but trifling flaws, they do'nt vitiate the title, that stands unimpeached; and-But, madam, your mother. Enter Mrs. Circuit. Mrs. Circ. What have you done with the knight? Why you have not let him depart? Char. It was not in my power to keep him. Mrs. Circ. I don't wonder at that; but what took him away? Char. What will at any time take him awaya duke at the door. Mrs. Circ. Are you certain of that? Serj. Why truly, chuck, his retreat was rather precipitate for a man that is just going to be married. Mrs. Circ. The prospect of marriage does not always prove the strongest attachment. Serj. Pardon me, lovee; the law allows no higher consideration than marriage. Mrs. Circ. Pshaw! Serj. Insomuch, that if duke A was to intermarry with chambermaid B, difference of condition would prove no bar to the settlement. Mrs. Circ. Indeed! Serj. Ay; and this was held to be law by chiefbaron Bind'em, on the famous case of the marquis of Cully, and Fanny Flip-flap the French dancer. Mrs. Circ. The greater blockhead the baron : but don't pester me with your odious law cases.-Did not you tell me you was going to Kingston to-day to try the crown causes? Serj. I was begg'd to attend for fear his lordship should not be able to sit; but if it proves inconvenient to you — Mrs. Circ. To me! Oh, by no means in the world; I am too good a subject to desire the least delay in the law's execution; and when d'ye set out? Serj. Between one and two; I shall only just give a law lecture to Jack. Mrs. Circ. Lord! I wonder, Mr. Circuit, you would breed that boy up to the bar. Serj. Why not, chuck? He has fine steady parts, and for his time moots a point — Mrs. Circ. Steady! stupid you mean: nothing sure could add to his heaviness but the being loaded with law. Why don't you put him into the army? Serj. Nay, chuck, if you choose it, I believe I have interest to get Jack a commission. Mrs. Circ. Why, Mr. Circuit, you know he is no son of mine; perhaps a cockade may animate the lad with some fire. Serj. True, lovee; and a knowledge of the law mayn't be amiss to restrain his fire a little. Mrs. Circ. I believe there is very little danger of his exceeding that way. Serj. Charlotte, send hither your brother. [Exit Charlotte. Mrs. Circ. I'll not interrupt you. Serj. Far from it, lovee; I should be glad to have you a witness of Jacky's improvement. Mrs. Circ. Of that I am no judge; besides, I am full of business to day-There is to be a ballot at one, for the Ladies' Club lately established, and lady Bab Basto has proposed me for a member.Pray, my dear, when will you let me have that money to pay my lord Loo? Serj. The three hundred you mean? Mrs. Circ. And besides, there is my debt to Kitty Cribbage; I protest I almost blush whenever I meet them. Serj. Why really, lovee, 'tis a large sum of money. Now, were I worthy to throw in a little advice, we might make a pretty good hand of this business. Mrs. Circ. I don't understand you. Serj. Bring an action against them on the statute, in the name of my clerk; and so not only rescue the debt from their hands, but recover likewise considerable damages. Mrs. Circ. A pretty conceit, Mr. Serjeant! but does it not occur to your wisdom, that as I have (by the help of captain Cog) been oftener a winner than loser, the tables may be turned upon us? Serj. No, no, chuck, that did not escape me; I have provided for that.-Do you know, by the law, both parties are equally culpable; so that, lovee, we shall be able to fleece your friends not only of what they have won of poor dearee, but likewise for what they have lost. Mrs. Circ. Why, what a paltry, pettifogging puppy art thou !-And could you suppose that I would submit to the scandalous office? Serj. Scandalous! I don't understand this strange perversion of words. The scandal lies in breaking the laws, not in bringing the offenders to justice. Mrs. Circ. Mean-spirited wretch !-What, do you suppose that those laws could be levell'd against people of their high rank and condition? Can it be thought that any set of men would sub mit to lay legal restraints on themselves?-Absurd and preposterous! Serj. Why, by their public practice, my love, one would suspect that they thought themselves excepted by a particular clause. Mrs. Circ. Oh! to be sure; not the least doubt can be made. Serj. True, chuck-But then your great friends should never complain of highwaymen stopping their coaches, or thieves breaking into their houses. Mrs. Circ. Why, what has that to do with the business? Serj. Oh! the natural consequence, lovee; for whilst the superiors are throwing away their fortunes, and consequently their independence above |