Air. Who the deuce can this be? Mrs. Fl. Some madman escaped from his keepers, I reckon. Prig. Yes, yes, I am escaped! but not mad and if there is law to be had, I'll make you to know-keepers !—if I had not luckily met with fome friends at the turnpike, I should have been kept pretty close, I believe. I recollected your footman that stood at the door, and gueffed you were not far off. Air. What is this? a madman? I went to fee one once in Bedlam-he-[Exit Prig. Enter Roger. Oh, here is Roger. Well, did you find where Toby is? Roger. Yes, yes, I found un out; and in fweet company too. Mrs. Air. Company? Roger. A clergyman, Betfy Bloffom, and our waiter at home. Air. Zounds! I hope the boy is not married. Roger. No; but they would have been, if I had not come juft in the nick to fetch un away. Air. Where is he? Roger. In a fhop at the corner. I wanted un to ftep over; but he would not, because why, he fays as how the house is haunted. Air. And why not? There was the manorhouse in the parish of Paddington-Mrs. Aircaftle, you may remember it formerly belonged to the Jeffops; but, by the marriage of the heiress with one of the Haflewoods Gorget. Come, come, it is a lucky prevention; and, to give you a little confolation, I believe Í fhall be able to recover your money from Flaw. Mrs. Mrs. Air, and Air. How, colonel? Gorget. I took the liberty, by way of prevention, to get him fecured for the money received of my enfign. Air. Indeed! Gorget. And, as this affair is rather of a criminal nature, he will think himself happy to escape by restoring the plunder. Air. My kind colonel! Gorget. I hope, madam, this will make you amends for your disappointment in the five hundred pounds. [4 fide. O'Flan. But what the devil is all this to my bill? Gorget. Did this woman receive it? Mrs. Fl. Flaw had it; but it wants fome days of being due. Gerget. Then we shall be able to stop the payment, at least; it is safe, never fear. O'Flan. That's lucky, however: And, by all I can hear, my beft way, Mr. Colonel, will be to make an emigration back to Ireland again. Gorget. By all means; and, by this time, many more of your countrymen would, I believe, be glad to follow your steps. O'Flan. Like enough. Air. And if, Mrs. Aircastle, we were to return back again Gorget. It would be the wifeft thing you could do. Mrs. Air. What, to vegetate like a parcel of plants! Gorget. Ay, madam; for there are trees that won't bear tranfplanting; they thrive beft in their natural foil. Air. That's true, I can anfwer. Laft fummer, I transplanted fome elm-trees Gorget. Lord! Mr. Aircaftle, how can youAir. Zounds! I muft n't fpeak-Sir, let me tell you the story of the elm. [To O'Flan Gorget. You, madam, till you have made all the fatisfaction you can, must be contented to fuffer a little confinement; after which, unless your country should have fome other call upon you, you may difpofe of yourself as you please. Mrs. Fl. I am detected, diftreffed, and must therefore fubmit! But, gentlemen, if all who have offended like us, were like us produced to the public, much higher names would adorn the the Old Bailey Chronicle than those of poor Fleece'em and Flaw! END OF THE THIRD ACT. |