Fontainbleau - LightNovelsOnl.com
You're reading novel online at LightNovelsOnl.com. Please use the follow button to get notifications about your favorite novels and its latest chapters so you can come back anytime and won't miss anything.
_Colonel E._ Sacre Dieu! he did not--Zounds--Damme!
_Tall._ [_To the COLONEL._] Yes; but he's such a shot, he'd snuff a candle on your head!
_Colonel E._ Sir, I vill snuff my head myself; and I vill snuff my nose myself, in spite of any body.
[_Takes Snuff in a hasty manner._
_Lack._ Colonel, without offence to your nose, lend me your little finger.
_Tall._ Do, he'll give it you again.
_Colonel E._ [_Shaking Hands with LACKLAND._] Ah, I see he is de true Englishman; for he has de courage to fight, and de good nature to forgive.--Mr. Lackland, vill you dine vid me to-morrow?
_Lack._ Dine! my dear fellow, I'll breakfast with you--I'll stay a whole month in your house.
_Colonel E._ [_With Joy._] Indeed!
_Tall._ Yes, and you'll find it cursed hard to get him out of it, he's so friendly.
_Colonel E._ [_To LACKLAND._] Gi' me your hand--You're a most hospitable fellow! Zounds! Damme!
_Lack._ Oh, pray, Tallyho, isn't that your sister Celia?
_Tall._ [_Looking._] Yes, that's sister Celia.
_Lack._ Haven't seen her some time--A fine girl, indeed!
_Tall._ I wish I'd left her behind, in Paris.--Badger'd--pestered with petticoats, when one has their betts and their business to mind.
_Colonel E._ I vill vait on de lady.
_Lack._ Yes, we'll all wait on the lady.--I shall engage her hand at the ball to-night.
_Tall._ Lackland, be quiet: she has a fortune.
_Lack._ Well, has her money spoiled her dancing?
_Tall._ No; but I am her guardian, Master Emperor.
_Lack._ Ha! ha! ha! then, by Heaven! I'll attack Miss Buffalo, or what is that--the grocer's----
_Tall._ What, then you have thrust your copper face into Sir John Bull's family?
_Lack._ Bull! ay, I thought it was some beast or other.
_Colonel E._ Oh, my Lady de Bull--Oh, dat is she, dat is recommend to me by a n.o.ble duke in Paris.
_Tall._ The daughter Doll is a fine filly--We start for matrimony, on our return to Paris.
_Lack._ After dinner, I'll challenge him in pint b.u.mpers of Casey's burgundy.
_Colonel E._ And I sall shake an elbow, and set de merry caster.
_Tall._ Very well, very well, gentlemen, have at you both--yoicks--hurrah!
AIR.--TALLYHO.
_I'm yours at any sort of fun, My buck, I'll tell you so; A main to fight, a nag to run, But say the word, 'tis done and done, All's one to Tallyho._
_Upon a single card I'll set A thousand pound, or so.
But name the thing, I'll bind the bet, And, if I lose, I'll scorn to fret; All's one to Tallyho._
_Suppose you challenge in a gla.s.s, Sweet Doll, my pretty Doe; And think your love could mine surpa.s.s, I'd swallow hogsheads, for my la.s.s, All's one to Tallyho._
[Exeunt.
_Enter CELIA, calling after them._
_Celia._ Brother! why, brother! was there ever such a mad mortal!
Lud, I wish he'd left me in Paris. I wish I hadn't left England--Fontainbleau!--better to have shone on the Steyne, at Brighton--Bless me! I wish I had only one dear beau, if but to keep me out o'the way o'the coaches--talk of French gallantry, and attention to the ladies! I protest, we've quite spoiled them--No, I find I have no chance here, while rivalled by Eclipse, Gimcrack, and Whirligig--Now, if love would but throw the handsome officer in my way, that entertained me so agreeably at the Sunday opera, at Paris.
_Enter HENRY and ROSA._
_Henry._ [_Seeing CELIA._] Yes, 'tis she, 'tis my charming unknown.
[_Aside._
_Celia._ Is that lady with him? [_ROSA takes HENRY'S Arm._] takes him by the arm!--I wonder women haven't some regard to decency, in public!
[_Exit, singing._
_Rosa._ [_Agitated, and looking about._] If Lord Winlove follows me,--death to him, or my brother, must be the consequence. [_Aside._]
Henry, if you design to take me to the convent to-night, we shall be too late--the gate's shut at vespers.
_Henry._ [_Looking after CELIA,_] 'Sdeath, if I lose her now, difficult, perhaps, to meet again--and, if I quit Rosa, she'll----
_Enter LAPOCHE._
_Lap._ Ah, Mademoiselle Rosa! I'm glad you have escape from dat cruel rogue of a--[_HENRY turns._] my dear friend, I am so overjoice I overtake a you--I did vash you all over dis great horse field--I did ask a for you all de littel jockeyboy, and I vas vip, and push, and kick, and tump about, from dis a post, to dat a post--
_Henry._ Well, pray what did you want with me?
_Lep._ Only in your hurry, I did forget to give you de receipt for your lodging money.
