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 house.

Air. How much?

Gorget. Five hundred guineas.

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

Go get. Not at all, when her husband is rich, and fhe 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.

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.

Gorget.

1

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

I

Air. With the greatest pleasure in life: Here is in this bag the very fum, which I have juft 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.

Air. True, true; I'd endeavour to get her for nothing: Chouse her, chouse her! do, colonel. If indeed she had asked for a ring with a poesy, or any fuch trifle as that-but fuch a monftrous demand! I would give something to see 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?

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 must away to the lady.

Air. True, true; and I to the shops 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 hufband, to fupply 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 he is.

[Exit.

Enter Mrs. Aircastle.

Mrs. Air. What, you are come, my dear colonel! I have waited for you with the utmoft impatience,

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

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

Gorget. Blufh! and why fo, madam ?

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

Gorget. and the wifest step you could take.

Mrs. Air. Pardon me, Sir! I am not to learn how dangerous it is to have an obligation to

you.

Gorget.

Gorget. And why fo? Can there be any thing more natural than to defire the affiftance of the perfon who loves us? Of my attachment I hope you have no reafon to doubt.

Mrs. Air. That, Sir, is the very source of my forrow, and has determined me to fupport every evil; nay, to apply even to Mr. Aircastle himfelf, rather than

Gorget. How, madam! then it is plain I have loft your esteem. Fool that I was, to be lulled by the bewitching lines of your letter! I thought that I had detected Love, that fly lurcher, lurk. ing under the mask of confidential-But now I unfortunately find how far I am from your favour. Mrs. Air. Cruel, unjust colonel Gorget!

Gorget. Ha! am I unjuft? you revive me! you restore me to-But banish every thought of an obligation to any but me; I fhould be jealous of

Mrs. Air. But really, colonel, the fum isGorget. Of no importance at all; a mere trifle; juft nothing: I thall not feel it, believe me. Mrs. Air. How can I be too grateful for fuch a generous proof of your friendship? Sure you were born to

Enter Toby.

What the deuce has brought that booby back! [dfide. Toby. Father defires you would call in your way, and take him up at the fword-cutler's.

Gorget. How! the young cub? This is lucky beyond expectation!-Here, madam, are the five hundred guineas, which you will be kind enough to pay, with my thanks, to Mr. Aircastle, your husband.

Mrs.

Mrs. Air. Finely taken and turned; what infinite wit and contrivance! [afide.]-But would it not be right, colonel, juft to fign a receipt? Gorget. Unneceffary, madam; but just as you please.

Mrs. Air. There is pen and ink in the room over head.

Gorget. Give me leave to conduct you. [Exeunt Gorget and Mrs. Air. Toby. I don't understand what father and mother's about. Here am I dizened, and skewered, and graced, juft like a young colt that is a-breaking: Nay, they were going to advertise me too, as if I was really a horfe; but lawyer Flaw has made them alter their minds, and I am to be difpofed of by private contract, I think. I can't fay that I am over-fond of their ways. Oh, poor Betfy Bloffom! let them match me to whoever they will, I fhall never love any like thee: I believe I should have put an end to their project, if I could but have found-Hey! who is this? Mercy on me! fure it must be her ghoft! and yet that can't be; because ghofts, they fay, never comes but at night. Betfy!

Enter Betfy Bloffom.

Betfy. Mafter Toby!

Toby. But is it poffible! can it be you ?
Betfy. As you fee.

Toby. Well, and how? Lord, I have ten thoufand questions to ask you. Where hast been? how doft do? how comeft here? Why, you are vaft fine, Betsy, all of a fudden; you be not married?

Betfy. Married! no, no; you have put that out of my power, you know.

Toby.