Air. I told her fo, Mr: Flaw: Zounds, fays I, you treat the boy as if he was a white bear, or an oftrich-though it is quite a mistake, Mr. Flaw, that thofe creatures eat iron: I faw one once at the Checquer at Salisbury-the keeper's name was Evan Thomas, a Welshman-he had but one hand-he loft the other, endeavouring to fteal a piece of cheese out of a rat-trap-the trap went down, and—~ Mrs. Air. Did ever mortal fee fuch a man? Air. And, zounds, why must not I speak? the likes to listen to no founds but her own; but I will be heard, and- Mrs. Air. And fo you fhall, when you talk to the purpose. Air. Purpose, madam! Damn it, I would have you to know- Flaw. Oh, fy, fy, good people! curb your cholers a little: Confider you are not now in the country. Air. Well, well, I am calm. Flaw. Then, to return to our business: Befides, my good madam, I had provided a match that would have completed all our matters at once. Mrs. Air. How? Flaw. A lady, an acquaintance of mine, lately arrived with her niece from the Indies Mrs. Air. And rich? Flaw. Enough to purchase the fceptre of Poland. Air. How! Flaw. Ay, even before his very good neigh bours had brought that monarchy down to a manor. Air. And pray, as to the party? C 2 Flaw. Flaw. Fleece'em is the name of the aunt ; not much indebted to fortune; but whoever is happy enough to marry the niece, won't fcruple, I dare fay, to procure her a proper provision. Mrs. Air. The most reasonable thing in the world. Flaw. I ventured to promife as much. Mrs. Air. Then you have hinted the business ? Flaw. As good as concluded. As marriagebonds are illegal, it will be right to make a depofit before the folemnization. Mrs. Air. To be fure. Now, Mr. Aircastle, I hope I was right; for feeing a little cash might promote our defigns, I got him to fell Sycamorefarm, and we have brought the money to town. Flaw. How much might the- Mrs. Air. Five thousand. Flaw. But, with a few diamonds, for which I will get you credit Mrs. Air. By all means. When should we wait on the young lady? Flaw. This very morning; we cannot be too quick; fome of the young blades about town begin to have an inkling, I fear; I obferve them throw their eyes up to the windows. Mrs. Air. Without doubt. Mr. Aircastle, you will go out to the fhops, and provide Toby with a new Beckford-hat, and a couteau du chaffe ? Flaw. And purchase at the fame time fome prefents for the young lady. Mrs. Air. The first time? Flaw. Always the rule in the Eaft; you never approach a fuperior without a fuitable present. Mrs, Air. No! Air. No! why, fool, that is the way the Nabobs have got all their wealth-I knew one of them 1 1 them once; anal, if he had not been fo rich, really a good fort of a-he was inoculated for the small-pox, by one of the Suttons, at the great house by Hyde-park-the builder of it got into the Bench, and was afterwards cleared by an act of infolvency-though Tom Jenkins, one of his creditors Mrs. Air. You fee!-Lord blefs me, now, Mr. Aircastle, how can you, when we have not a moment to lofe-Go, go out with the boy, I beseech you! Air. Well, well, well! [Going. Flaw. I'll run before, and prepare Mrs. Fleece'em. Mrs. Air. By all manner of means. Air. Pray, is not the toy-fhop at the end of the street, kept by the fon of I remember I met the father once at Newarket-he was in a one-horse chaife, made by Varnish here in LongAcre-who built a ftaté-coach for the Empress of Ruffia-he was recommended by Lord-I can't think of his name-who was chofen one of the fixteen for the kingdom of Mrs. Air. Take him with you, dear Mr. Flaw! Flaw. Come, Sir, I will fhew you the shop. [Exeunt Aircafle and Flaw. Mrs. Air. So! having provided for Toby, I am at leisure to attend to my own private concerns. Who's there? Enter Maid-Servant. Bid the Waiter come up! C 3 was was vaftly ftruck with me during the races; and I don't fee why I have not as good a right to profit by my perfon, as I am told fome ladies do, who live in this- Enter Waiter. Well, Sir, what return to my letter? Waiter. The colonel, madam, will obey your commands. Mrs. Air. Very well! when he comes, fhew him into the next room. Another Room in the Bagnio. Enter Colonel Gorget, reading a letter. [Exeunt. Gorget. Bravo, bravo, my fweet country acquaintance! this is a rendezvous with a witness. Let me fee! Um, um, um! « Unexpectedly brought by bufinefs to town-no time to make "a proper provifion-accommodate me with "Five Hundred Guineas"-accommodate! an apt phrafe, and a pretty fum too; but how the deuce could the woman fuppofe that I was able to advance fuch a fum? Um, um !" Not prove ungrateful-Elizabeth"-Oh, ho! now I begin to conceive. Stay! who have we here? Zooks! the husband himself. Enter Aircafile. Air. What, Colonel Gorget! Gorget. Mr. Aircastle, I am happy to see you! But what important bufinefs can have brought you to London ? Air. Some family affairs, and to lay out a pret ty ty large fum, which I lately got for a parcel of land. But is this vifit intended to me? Gorget. No; I was quite a ftranger to your being in town. A lady in the house, that. I lately knew in the country Air. What, from our part of the world? Gorget. No, no; but a devilifh fine woman : Laft fummer fome little gallantries paft between us below. Air. Ay, ay; you officers play the very deuce when you come down into the country. I remember enfign Safh, about ten years ago-his father came from Barbadoes-I met him at Treacle's, the great fugar-baker's, who had a house in St. Mary-Axe-he took the lease from alderman Gingham, who served fheriff with deputy-there was tight work on the huftings Gorget. Oh, the devil! he runs on at the old rate. But we forget the lady. Air. Oh, ay; "Gallantry with her below;" which I fuppofe you have finished above. Gorget No, faith, not entirely, my friend; but I think we are in a fair way. Air. Ay! Gorget. The garrifon has offered to furrender. Air. Then what prevented you from taking poffeffion? Gorget. The governor, as ufual, infists on a bribe, which it was not immediately in my power to pay Air. Damn thofe governors!-why, there was the governor of Bergen-op-zoom, in the laft war Gorget. But hear me !-I was just stepping home to provide the credentials; but, however, |