-Now for Mr. Freeman's part

[Exit.

ha, ha!-No star has favoured -The girdle! ha, ha, ha! none of

-Why,

none of the girdle.of the plot. [Aside.] Per. The stars! you, it seems your legerdemain tricks can pass upon me— what a pack of trumpery has this rogue picked upHis Pagod, Poluflosboio, his Zonas, Moros Musphonons, and the devil knows what- But I'll take care-Ha, gone !-Ay, 'twas time to sneak off.Soho! the house! [Enter Sackbut.] Where is this trickster? Send for a constable, I'll have this rascal before the lord mayor; I'll Grand Cairo him, with a pox to him—I believe you had a hand in putting this imposture upon me, Sackbut.

Sack. Who I, Mr. Periwinkle? I scorn it; I perceiv'd he was a cheat, and left the room on purpose to send for a constable to apprehend him, and endeavour'd to stop him when he went out-But the rogue made but one step from the stairs to the door, call'd a coach, leap'd into it, and drove away like the devil, as Mr. Freeman can witness, who is at the bar, and desires to speak with you; he is this minute come to

town.

Per. Send him in. [Exit Sackbut.] What a scheme this rogue has laid! How I should have been laugh'd at, had it succeeded!

Enter FREEMAN, booted and spurr'd.

Mr. Freeman, your dress comands your welcome to

town; what will you drink

I had like to have been impos'd upon here by the veriest rascal

Free. I am sorry to hear it-The dog flew for't; he had not 'scaped me, if I had been aware of him; Sackbut struck at him but miss'd his blow, or he had done his business for him.

Per. I believe you never heard of such a contrivance, Mr. Freeman, as this fellow had found out.

Free. Mr. Sackbut has told me the whole story, Mr. Periwinkle; but now I have something to tell you of much more importance to yourself.—I happen'd to lie one night at Coventry, and knowing your uncle Sir Toby Periwinkle, I paid him a visit, and, to my great surprise, found him dying.

Per. Dying!

Free. Dying, in all appearance; the servants weeping, the room in darkness: the 'pothecary, shaking his head, told me the doctors had given him over; and then there are small hopes, you know.

Per. I hope he made his will-he always told me he would make me his heir.

Free. I have heard you say as much, and therefore resolved to give you notice. I should think it would not be amiss if you went down to-morrow morning.

Per. It is a long journey, and the roads very bad. Free. But he has a great estate, and the land very good-Think upon that.

Per. Why, that's true, as you say; I'll think upon it in the mean time, I give you many thanks for

your civility, Mr. Freeman, and should be glad of your company to dine with me.

Free. I am oblig'd to be at Jonathan's coffee-house at two, and now it is half an hour after one; if I dispatch my business, I'll wait on you; I know your hour.

Per. You shall be very welcome, Mr. Freeman, and so your humble servant.

Re-enter Colonel and SACKBUT.

[Exit.

Free. Ha, ha, ha! I have done your business, colonel; he has swallow'd the bait.

Col. I overheard all, though I am a little in the dark; I am to personate a highwayman, I supposethat's a project I am not fond of; for though I may fright him out of his consent, he may fright me out of my life, when he discovers me, as he certainly must in the end.

Free. No, no, I have a plot for you without danger, but first we must manage Tradelove-Has the taylor brought your clothes?

Sack. Yes, pox take the thief.

Free. Well, well, no matter, I warrant we have him yet-But now you must put on the Dutch merchant.

Col. The deuce of this trading plot-I wish he had been an old soldier, that I might have attack'd him in my own way, heard him fight o'er all the battles of the late war-But for trade, by Jupiter, I shall never do it.

Sack. Never fear, colonel, Mr. Freeman will in

struct you.

Free. You'll see what others do, the coffee-house will instruct you.

Col. I must venture, however-But I have a farther plot in my head upon Tradelove, which you must assist me in, Freeman; you are in credit with him, I heard you say.

Free. I am, and will scruple nothing to serve you, colonel.

Col. Come along then-Now for the Dutchman-
Honest Ptolomy. By your leave.

Now must bag-wig and business come in play;
A thirty thousand pound girl leads the way.

ACT I. SCENE I.

Jonathan's Coffee-house, in 'Change-alley. A crowd of People with Rolls of Paper and Parchment in their Hands; a Bar, and Coffee Boys waiting. Enter TRADELOVE and Stock-Jobbers, with Rolls of Paper and Parchment.

1st Stock-Jobber.

SOUTH-Sea at seven-eighths; who buys?

2d Stock. South-Sea bonds due at Michaelmas, 1718. Class lottery-tickets?

3d Stock. East India bonds?

4th Stock. What, all sellers and no buyers? Gen

tlemen, I'll buy a thousand pound for Tuesday next, at three-fourths.

Coff. Boy. Fresh coffee, gentlemen, fresh coffee?

Trade. Hark ye, Gabriel, you'll pay the difference of that stock we transacted for t'other day?

Gab. Ay, Mr. Tradelove, here's a note for the money upon the Sword Blade Company.

Coff. Boy. Bohea-tea, gentlemen?

Enter a Man.

Man. Is Mr. Smuggle here?

[Gives him a Note.

1st Coff. Boy. Mr. Smuggle's not here, sir, you'll find him at the books.

2d Stock. Ho! here comes two sparks from t'other end of the town; what news bring they?

Enter two Gentlemen.

Trade. I would fain bite the spark in the brown coat; he comes very often into the Alley, but never employs a broker.

Enter Colonel and FREEMAN.

2d Stock. Who does any thing in the Civil List lottery or Caco? Zounds, where are all the Jews this afternoon? Are you a bull or a bear to-day, Abraham ?

3d Stock. A bull, faith-but I have a good put for next week.