Const. Doctor! Sir, I believe you have mistaken your man: but if you are called Count Basset, I have a billet-doux in my hand for you, that will set you right presently.

Count Bas. What the devil's the meaning of all this?

Const. Only my Lord Chief Justice's warrant against you for forgery, sir.

Count Bas. Blood and thunder!

Const. And so, sir, if you please to pull off your fool's frock there, I'll wait upon you to the next justice of peace immediately.

Jenny. Oh, dear me, what's the matter? [Trembling. Count Bas. Oh, nothing, only a masquerading frolic, my dear.

'Squ. Rich. Oh, ho, is that all ?

Sir Fran. No, sirrah! that is not all?

[Sir Francis coming softly behind the 'Squire, knocks him down with his cane.

Enter MANLY.

'Squ. Rich. Oh, lawd! Oh, lawd! he has beaten my brains out.

Man. Hold, hold, Sir Francis, have a little mercy upon my poor godson, pray sir.

Sir Fran. Wounds, cousin, I ha'n't patience.
Count Bas. Manly! nay then I'm blown to the de-

vil.

'Squ. Rich. Oh, my head! my head!

[Aside.

Enter Lady WRONGHEAD.

Lady Wrong. What's the matter here, gentlemen ? For Heaven's sake! What, are you murdering my children?

Const. No, no, madam! no murder! only a little suspicion of felony, that's all.

Sir Fran. [To Jenny.] And for you, Mrs. Hotupon't, I could find in my heart to make you wear that habit as long as you live, you jade you. Do you know, hussy, that you were within two minutes of marrying a pickpocket.

Count Bas. So, so, all's out I find.

[Aside. Jenny. Oh, the mercy! why, pray, papa, is not the count a man of quality then?

Sir Fran. Oh, yes, one of the unhanged ones, it

seems.

Lady Wrong. [Aside.] Married! Oh, the confident thing! There was his urgent business then-slighted for her! I ha'n't patience!-and, for ought I know, I have been all this while making a friendship with a highwayman.

Man. Mr. Constable, secure there.

Sir Fran. Ah, my lady! my lady! this comes of your journey to London: but now I'll have a frolic of my own, madam; therefore pack up your trumpery this very night, for the moment my horses are able to crawl, you and your brats shall make a journey into the country again.

Lady Wrong. Indeed, you are mistaken, Sir Francis-I shall not stir out of town yet, I promise you. Sir Fran. Not stir? Waunds, madam

Man. Hold, sir!—if you'll give me leave a little—I fancy I shall prevail with my lady to think better on't. Sir Fran. Ah, cousin, you are a friend indeed!

Man. [Apart to my lady.] Look you, madam, as to the favour you designed me, in sending this spurious letter inclosed to my Lady Grace, all the revenge I have taken, is to have saved your son and daughter from ruin.Now if you will take them fairly and quietly into the country again, I will save your ladyship from ruin.

Lady Wrong. What do you mean, sir?

Man. Why, Sir Francis-shall never know what is in this letter; look upon it. How it came into my hands you shall know at leisure.

Lady Wrong. Ha! my billet-doux to the count! and an appointment in it! I shall sink with confusion! Man. What shall I say to Sir Francis, madamı? Lady Wrong. Dear sir, I am in such a trembling! preserve my honour, and I am all obedience.

[Apart to Manly. Man. Sir Francis- -my lady is ready to receive your commands for her journey, whenever you please to appoint it.

Sir Fran. Ah, cousin, I doubt I am obliged to you for it.

Man. Come, come, Sir Francis, take it as you find it. Obedience in a wife is a good thing, though it

were never so wonderful! —————— And now, sir, we have nothing to do but to dispose of this gentleman. Count Bas. Mr. Manly; sir, I hope you won't ruin me,

Man. Did not you forge this note for five hundred pounds, sir?

Count Bas. Sir-I see you know the world, and therefore I shall not pretend to prevaricate—But it has hurt nobody yet, sir; I beg you will not stigmatize me; since you have spoiled my fortune in one family, I hope you won't be so cruel to a young fellow, as to put it out of my power, sir, to make it in another, sir.

Man. Look you, sir, I have not much time to waste with you: but if you expect mercy yourself, you must shew it to one you have been cruel to..

Count Bas. Cruel, sir!

Man. Have you not ruined this young woman?
Count Bas. I, sir!

Man. I know you have-therefore you cann’t blame her, if, in the fact you are charged with, she is a principal witness against you. However, you have one, and only one chance to get off with. Marry her this instant--and you take off her evidence. Count Bas. Dear sir!

Man. No words, sir; a wife or a mittimus. Count Bas. Lord, sir! this is the most unmerciful mercy!

Man. A private penance, or a public onestable.

Con

Count Bas. Hold, sir, since you are pleased to give me my choice, I will not make so ill a compliment to the lady, as not to give her the preference.

Man. It must be done this minute, sir: the chaplain you expected is still within call.

Count Bas. Well, sir,since it must be soCome, spouse-I am not the first of the fraternity, that has run his head into one noose, to keep it out of another.

Myr. Come, sir, don't repine : marriage is at worst but playing upon the square.

Count Bas.

the devil.

Ay, but the worst of the match too, is

Man. Well, sir, to let you see it is not so bad as you think it; as a reward for her honesty, in detecting your practices, instead of the forged bill you would have put upon her, there's a real one of five hundred pounds to begin a new honey-moon with. [Gives it to Myrtilla.

Count Bas. Sir, this is so generous an actMan. No compliments, dear sir-I am not at leisure now to receive them. Mr. Constable, will you be so good as to wait upon this gentleman into the next room, and give this lady in marriage to him?

Const. Sir, I'll do it faithfully.

Count Bas. Well, five hundred will serve to make a handsome push with, however.

[Exeunt Count Bas. Myr. and Constable.