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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 business to town-no time to make

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a proper provision-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 hufband himself.

Enter Aircafile.

Air. What, Colonel Gorget!

you

Gorget. Mr. Aircaftle, I am happy to fee But what important, business 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 houfe, that I lately knew in the country→→→→→

Air. What, from our part of the world?

Gorget. No, no; but a devilish 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 Sash, about ten years ago-his father came from Barbadoes-I met him at Treacle's, the great fugar-baker's, who had a houfe in St. Mary-Axe-he took the leafe from alderman Gingham, who ferved 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, infifts 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,

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this

this lucky meeting will, I flatter myself, put an end to my journey.

Air. As how?

Gorget, If you

will fupply me with the fum till evening, I fhall close the bargain without quitting the houfe.

Air. How much?

Gerget. Five hundred guineas.

Air. Five hundred guineas! what a cormorant the woman must be!

Gorget. Not at all, when her husband is rich, and she is above accepting a trifle.

Air. Now, I fhould have thought that would have made her more reasonable.

Gorget. Quite the reverfe; why, did you ever know a wealthy courtier accept of a moderate penfion?

Air. That, indeed-But are you really ferious ?

Gorget. So ferious, that if you will lend me the money→→→→→

Air. Nay, but, colonel, that is

Gorget. Nay, but if you hefitate

Air. No, it is not that; the money is quite at your fervice; but you will repent, and then reproach me What! five hundred? there can be no woman worth it.

2. Gorget. You would alter your tone, if you

faw her.

Air. Should I? Prithee tell me her name; perhaps I may know her.

Gorget. I durft not; you know my honour is concerned.

Air. Honour with fuch a woman as that?
Gorget. She is very well known.

Air. And ought to be better.

Gerget.

Gorget. But I wafte time, and may lose the critical minute: Will you fupply me, or muft

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Air. With the greatest pleasure in life: Here is in this bag the very fum, which I have just received for a draft in the city.

Gorget. Ten thousand thanks, my dear Mr.Air. I can't fay tho', but I am forry

Gorget. Oh, it is not impoffible but I may come off at an easier rate: With fuch a capital in hand, one may haggle, you know.

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Air. True, true; I'd endeavour to get her for nothing: Choufe her, choufe her! do, colonel. If indeed fhe had afked for a ring with a poefy, or any fuch trifle as that-but fuch a monftrous demand! I would give fomething to fee her. Gorget. Why, it is my opinion you know who

fhe is.

Air. Really?

Gorget. Now, if it fhould turn out that you had been happy with the lady yourself, would not that greatly furprise you?

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Air. Me? ha, ha, ha! the deuce a bit: Tho', when I came firft to the Temple, there was a lawyer's wife that lived in Quality-court, that I was exceedingly fond of-her husband came home one night, and I crept under the bed, where I should have remained concealed, but for a little dog of Charles's breed; he went bow, wow, wowGorget. Oh, the devil!-But confider, time preffes; I muft away to the lady.

Air. True, true; and I to the fhops with my boy. And I happy with the-ha, ha, ha-However, if that be the cafe, colonel, it is a stronger reafon for closing your purfe-ftrings; for the devil take me if I ever knew a woman who was de

ferving

ferving a tythe of that fum in my life!-Yes; I lie! I did; a Greek girl, they called Circaffian -I faw her at Tunbridge-where, by the bye, they have the oddeft pantile-walk-with the mufick on a shelf-and as the company walk to and fro, the fidlers go tal, lah la

Gorget, Nay, but-[pushing him out]. This is lucky beyond expectation; what a civilized husband, to supply me with the very money I wanted!

Enter Tom.

Is the lady at leisure?

Tom. She knows her husband is gone out, and will be with you this inftant.

Gorget. Very well! take care, and watch his

return.

Tom. Here the is.

[Exit,

Enter Mrs. Aircaftle.

Mrs. Air. What, you are come, my dear colonel! I have waited for you with the utmost im patience.

Gorget. And I, madam, have flown to obey your commands.

Mrs. Air. No more of that, colonel, I beg: I blush to confider

Gorget. Blush! and why fo, madam?

Mrs. Air. At what you must think of my letter: But the high fenfe I entertain of your friendfhip, induced me, in fuch an exigence, to make the trial.

Gorget. and the wifeft ftep you could take. Mrs. Air, Pardon me, Sir! I am not to learn how dangerous it is to have an obligation to

you.

Gorget.

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