is unjust suspicion; I know my dear b y is in love with the lady, he has confessed it to me. Roe. [Half aside.] The devil he has ! Rur I will get the Colonel's consent-I'll do it at once before I see Littleton-not a word to him. Let me surprise him with it. Oh, Littleton ! Enter LITTLETON COKE, L. C. Roe. My dear fellow, you must aid me Lit. In what? [Exit, L. Roe. Old Rocket leaves this to-morrow, taking Kate with him. I have determined to accompany them. Lit. How? Roe. The lady wants a groom. Lit. You never mean to undertake the place. Roe. When I have removed these foreign decorations from my chin and lips, I'd defy the eyes of Argus to know me. Enter SERVANT, L. Serv. Mr. Bribe, sir, wishes to see his lordship. Roe. Bribe, the devil-very well, Thomas. [Exit Servant, L. That's my father's solicitor and parliamentary agent, come to arrange accounts for my nomination.What's to be done? Lit. What's Bribe's fee? Roe. A thousand pounds. Lit. I'll offer him fifteen hundred to go down on my account. Roe. But is it practicable ?—will he? Lit. Anything is practicable to a lawyer for five hundred pounds. But we must find some one to represent a partner in his firm, who is unknown by sight to your father. Roe. Crawl's the man, an arrant vote-broker. Lit. Then Crawl shall enjoy an honest reputation for a day, in the person of Bob. Roe. Is he equal to it? Lit. I'll back him with odds at anything, from winning a kitchen wench, to a speech from the woolsack. Roe. He is here-where shall I find him? Lit. Have you any spot in the house dedicated espe cially to the maids and mischief? if so, raise your voice in that quarter. Bob. Sir! sir! Enter BOB, cautiously, L. Lit. Here he is. [Looks about. Bob. I've sent your adress to the Closeborough Independent, sir. Lit. My address! Bob. To the free and enlightened electors-you'll find it sharp and undecided, sir-I've been rather abusive in my allusions to your lordship, but one cannot be political without being personal; therefore, when I refer to your lordship, from the hustings to-morrow, as only falling short of a fool by being born a knave, and the disgrace you are to the aristocracy-[To Littleton.] Oh, sir, I've not read the debates for nothing.-[To Roebuck.] Your lordship will understand me to speak professionally. Roe. Why-you-you Lit. [Crosses to Roebuck, and aside.] Never mind, wait till I can afford to pay him his wages, I'll not forget you. [To Bob.] We require you to adopt the name and character of a gentleman who is expected here, and to personate him before Lord Pompion: can you do it? Bob. That depends upon whom he is. Roe. Crawl, the attorney and agent. Bob. [To Littleton.] I thought you spoke of a gentle man. Lit. Nonsense, sir; can you play the attorney? Bob. Facilis descensus averni, as Virgil said, when you were at college, sir. I'll adopt the character, but I'm afraid my honesty will show through and spoil the assumption. Lit. No fear of that. Accompany Lord Charles, he will give you instructions. Roe. 'Tis a fearful alternative, but there is no time to invent; I'll despatch Bribe at once. [To Bob.] This way. Gare! here comes the widow! [Exeunt, Roe. & Bob, R. Lit. The widow, and once more alone, ha! I feel that if I could mask my impetuosity for a moment, I might at least discover my position, but my love is in its own way, and-. Enter LADY ALICE HAWTHOrn, l. [Aside.] Here she is. Lady A. [Aside.] I thought he had gone without me-ha! I almost believe I like the fool. [Littleton sits and writes.] I must discover why these brothers do not speak. -I was thinking of trying the opera for an hour, Mr. Coke. Lit. Not a bad idea-[Writing,] my distracted love is too perceptible-[Aloud,] the opera, ay! [Aside,] could she have refused to accompany Tom and the Countess, to secure a tête-à-tête with me?—I dare not hope it.—[ Writing. "In the fond hope." Lady A. [Aside.] Why, I do believe the fellow is writing a love letter. Lit. [Still writing.] " Grisi”—yes—ah—eh—I beg your pardon-you'll allow me to ring for your carriage. Lady A. [Aside.] So he thinks he is sure of me-oh! yes-hang his smirking self-sufficient grin-that letter is to me-now, if I liked him less, I would torture him till -why-he is not going to seal it! Lit. [Burning the wax.] Lady Alice, I remarked a minute signet ring on your lovely hand: will you favour me with it for an instant? Lady A. Nonsense; it bears the motto, "L'amour est." Lit. Love defunct-excellent. You keep it to seal your death warrant, to the heart of a discarded lover. [Seals' the letter.] Spirituelle-ha! [Kisses the ring, and returns it to her finger, kissing her hand. Lady A. Well--ahem-[Aside.] He does not give it to me-[Littleton writes,] he directs it-really, I—[ Littleton extinguishes the taper and advances,] feel very-oh, here he comes-ha! he was too nervous to speak-ILit. Lady Alice Lady A. [Aside.] His voice trembles-ha!--[ Littleton walks round her, and takes up a shawl,] he's swimming round the hook. Lit. You were talking of the opera― [Crossing, L. Lady A. Sir!-[Aside.] He's off. Lit. [Folding the shawl.] Happy shawl!--Blest cash mere!-why was I not born amongst you to be continu ally hugged round such a lovely form as this. [Shawling her.] Allow me to ring for the carriage. Lady A. [Aside.] Hang the fellow, I'll have that letter if I die for it.—A warm correspondence that of your's, if I may judge by your escaped expression. Lit. [Aside.] Aha! 'tis a bite, as I expected-now, I'll play with her a little.-Warm! oh, yes; and, apropos, you may be of some assistance to me. Lady A. Assistance ! Lit. Yes; you might deliver the letter. I am sure the interest you took in me this morning, will excuse the con fidence I ask you to give us. Lady A. Us! Lit. Yes. [Gives the letter.] I'm an humble aspirant to Lady A. [Reading.] Miss Rocket! Lit. You seem surprised. Lady A. Surprised! and the lady-she encourages you? Lit. Look at me, and don't wound my feelings by reiterating the question. Lady A. And your-your-ha! ha!-your protestations to me Lit. Egad, that's true. I forgot-oh, don't mistake me -when I offer Miss Rocket my hand, allow me to express at the same time, my wild adoration of your lady ship in the abstract-It's a fearful mania of mine. Lady A. Ha! ha! and you thought I reciprocated your empty expression of-Oh!-[Aside.] I shall choke! -Perhaps, you even imagined I was in love with you. Lit. I did. Lady A. Disabuse your mind of it, I beg you flatter yourself! Lit. You are not in love with me? [Crosses to L. Lit. Ah, true-how could one expect Heaven to endow you with beauty and sense at the same time. Lady A. And do you imagine, sir, that I will permit my friend to remain in ignorance of your treachery? Lit. Quite the contrary. I feel convinced you will in stantly apprise her of the fact-Oh! I don't wish to take her at any disadvantage-I wish to owe nothing but to the unaided dynamics of personal appearance. Lady A. [Aside.] The egregious puppy- my heart should disinherit him-cut him off with a sigh-but that I feel it has quitted this world [Touching her heart,] without a will. Lit. [Aside.] She loves me, and now begins to feel it. As I proceed 1 gain more confidence.-You seem rather animated! sorry that I'm compelled to leave you alone with your feelings-excuse the imputation. [Eyeing her.] I see you possess those inconveniences; they impart expression, and are amusing enough to observe-but must be very troublesome in their manufacture. Lady A. [Aside.] I would esteem this man a brute, but 'twould be a libel upon quadrupeds, for he wants their animation. Lit. You are bored, I see-regret I can't amuse-possessing only the ability to be amused. Shall I ring for your dog or my brother? Lady A. Don't trouble yourself! were I inclined to laugh at anything, you would do, very well.—[Aside.] I could cry, but I won't. Lit. Farewell! I tear myself away.-[Looks at his watch. I'm agonized with the necessity, but I see the ballet has commenced, and I would not miss the Truandaise for a thousand. [Lounges up and out, c., humming an air. Lady A. Can this be real?-what need I care ?—I'll go to the opera and find fifty lovers there, make each commit fifty follies, and revenge myself on the sex. [Throws herself on sofa. Enter RURAL, L. Rur. What a fearful mistake I had nearly committedthe Earl has just been speaking of his son's projected marriage with this lady; I must find Tom, and tell him so-poor fellow! 'tis well he nas not known her long enough to feel her loss. But, how delighted Littleton will be to hear that his suspicions were unfounded; now, now, I can conscientiously promote their happiness. Lady A. [Apart.] Yet, his fervour was so natural, I |
