Kitty. Suppofe then, Mr. Robin, we were to live under our own roof, instead of that of another, don't you think it would be mending the matter?

Robin. It would be Elyfium, my angel. But how to get at the means?

Kitty. If that is your objection, they may be easily found.

Robin. Does my lovely Kitty think I can have any other?

Kitty. Then fince that is the cafe, Mr. Robin, it is but right I fhould explain to you, what I meant by my riddle, this morning. But fee that we are fafe.

Robin. Not a foul.

Kitty. You must know, then, that this whole affair of Mifs Lydia is my lady's contrivance. Robin. What, is that whole ftory a fiction? Kitty. A mere flam; nothing elfe; and to bring about Sir James's marriage with Lucy, her motive..

Robin. I conceive.

Kitty. Now, as the project would not do without my affiftance, my lady gave me (here it is, ftuck in my stays) a note for five hundred pounds, if the match is broke off; and a thoufand, fhould Mifs Lucy's take place.

Robin. Hum-hum-hum-500-humhum-Rebecca Riscounter-it is just as you fay.

Kitty. Now, as matters ftand, you fee I am entitled to the firft 500 directly, and, with your affiftance, perhaps the other may follow.

Robin. Not unlikely. But hold a little, dear Kitty, a little caution may not be amifs.

This mistress of your's is a damn'd artful woman; fhe has trick'd others, and won't fcruple cheating of you.

Kitty. I don't understand you.

Robin. It is not quite clear that this note is a good one.

Kitty. How!

Robin. I mean fuch a one as fhe will be obliged hereafter to pay.

Kitty. Then the business shall be blown up in an inftant.

Robin. Too late. She will only laugh at you when her ends are obtain'd.

Kitty. Then what fteps can we take?

Robin. There is an old master of mine, who lives in Brick-court in the Temple, as cunning a cur as ever hang'd an innocent man, or fav'd a rogue from the gallows. I'll run, and

afk his opinion.

Kitty. But won't that be betraying our fecret?

Robin. Counsellors, like confeffors, are bound not to reveal their client's confeffion : besides, I can easily conceal the name of the party.

Kitty. You will come immediately back? Robin. In an inftant, unless I have your leave to go a step further.

Kitty. Further!

Robin. To Doctors Commons, for a little bit of parchment, that will foon unite us for

ever.

Kitty. O law! you are in a vaft prodigious great hurry; but, I think, Mr. Robin, you muft do as you pleafe.

Robin. Thus let me acknowledge your kind condefcenfion. For a moment then, my dear Kitty, adieu. [Exit Kitty.] So, now I have the means in my power to resettle all our matters again.

SCENE, A Printer's.

[Exit.

Margin difcovered with News-papers, Accomptbooks, &c.

Sold twelve

Marg. September the 9th. hundred and thirty. June the 20th. Two thousand and fix. Good increase for the time, confidering too that the winter has been pretty pacific: dabble but little in treafons, and not remarkably fcurrilous, unlefs, indeed, in a few perfonal cafes. We must feafon higher to keep up the demand. Writers in Journals, like ropedancers, to engage the public attention, muit venture their necks every ftep that they take. The pleasure people feel, arifes from the rifques that we run-what's the matter?

Enter Dingey.

Ding. Mr. Hyfon has left the answer to his laft letter on Eaft-India affairs.

Marg. A lazy rafcal, now his letter is forgot, he comes with an answer. Befides, the fubject is ftale: Return it again. Are all our people in waiting?

Ding. The Attorney General to the paper, that anfwers the law cafes, is not come yet.

Marg. Oh! that's Ben Bond'em the Bailiff; prudently done; perhaps he has a writ against G

one

one of our authors-Bid them enter, and call over their names.

Ding. Walk in, Gentlemen.

Enter Pepper, Plaister, Rumour, Forge'em, Fibber, Comma, Cauftic, O'Flam, and others.

Ding. Politicians, pro and con, Meffieurs Pepper and Plaister.

Pep. Plaif. Here.

Marg. Pepper and Plaifter, as both the houfes are up, I fhall adjourn your Political Warfare 'till their meeting again.

Pep. Don't you think the public would bear one skirmish more before we close the campaign? I have a trimmer here in my hand.

Plaif. To which I have as tart a retort.

Marg. No, no; enough for the prefent. It is, Plaister, the proper timeing the subject, that gives fuccefs to our labours. The conductor of a News-paper, like a good cook, should always ferve up things in their feason: who eats oyfters in June? Plays and Parliament Houses are winter provisions.

Pep. Then half the fatire and falt will be loft: Befides, if the great man fhould happen to die, or go out.

Marg. Pfhaw! it will do as well for the great man that comes in. Political papers fhould bear vamping; like fermons, change but the application and text, and they will fuit all perfons and seasons.

Plaif. True enough; but mean time, what can we turn to? for we fhall be quite out of work.

Marg

Marg. I warrant you, if you an't idle, there's bufinefs enough, the prefs teems with fresh publications-Hiftories, tranflations, voyages—

Pep. That take up as much time to read as to make.

Marg. And what with letters from Paris or Spaw, inundations, elopements, difmal effects of thunder and lightning, remarkable causes at country affizes, and with changing the ministry now and then, you will have employment enough for the Summer.

Plaif. And fo enter upon our old trade in the winter?

Marg. Aye, or for variety, as it must be tirefome to take always one fide; you, Pepper, may go over to administration, and Plaister will join oppofition. The novelty may perhaps give fresh fpirits to both.

Pep. With all my heart. A bold writer has now no encouragement to fharpen his pen. I have known the day when there was no difficulty in getting a lodging in Newgate; but now, all I can fay, won't procure me a warrant from a Westminster Juftice.

Marg. You fay right, hard times, mafter Pepper, for perfecution is the very life and foul of our trade; but don't defpair, who knows how foon matters may mend? gentlemen, you may draw back.Read the next.

Ding. Criticks-Thomas Comma and Chrif topher Cauftic.

Marg. Where are they?

Ding. As you could not find them in conftant employment, they are engaged by the great, to do the articles in the Monthly Re

views,

G 2

Marg