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_Cliff._ [_Significantly._] I hope every man will do the same.
_Blandish._ Mr. Clifford, do not let me drive you away--I want to learn your power to gain and to preserve dear Lord Gayville's esteem.
_Cliff._ [_With a seeming Effort to withdraw his Hand, which BLANDISH holds._] Sir, you are quite accomplished to be an example.--
_Blandish._ I have been at your apartment, to look for you--we have been talking of you with Sir Clement--Lady Emily threw in her word.--
_Cliff._ [_Disengaging his Hand._] Oh, sir, you make me too proud.
[_Aside._] Practised parasite!
[_Exit._
_Blandish._ [_Aside._] Sneering puppy.----[_To LORD GAYVILLE._] My lord, you seem disconcerted; has any thing new occurred?
_Lord G._ No, for there is nothing new in being disappointed in a friend.
_Blandish._ Have you told your story to Mr. Clifford?
_Lord G._ I have, and I might as well have told it to the cynic my uncle: he could not have discouraged or condemned me more.
_Blandish._ They are both in the right. I see things exactly as they do--but I have less fort.i.tude, or more attachment than others:--The inclinations of the man, I love, are spells upon my opposition.
_Lord G._ Kind Blandis.h.!.+ you are the confidant I want.
_Blandish._ What has happened since your discovery in the closet?
_Lord G._ The lovely wanderer left her lodgings the next morning--but I have again found her--she is in a house of equal retirement, but of very different character, in the city, and inaccessible. I have wrote to her, and knowing her to be distressed, I have enclosed bank bills for two hundred pounds, the acceptance of which I have urged with all the delicacy I am master of, and, by Heaven! without a purpose of corruption.
_Blandish._ Two hundred pounds, and Lord Gayville's name--
_Lord G._ She has never known me, but by the name of Mr. Heartly. Since my ambition has been to be loved for my own sake, I have been jealous of my t.i.tle.
_Blandish._ And pr'ythee by what diligence or chance, did Mr. Heartly trace his fugitive?
_Lord G._ By the acuteness of Mr. Prompt, your valet de chambre. You must pardon me for pressing into my service for this occasion, the fellow in the world fittest for it.--Here he comes.
_Enter PROMPT._
_Prompt._ Are you alone, my lord?
[_Starts at seeing his Master._
_Lord G._ Don't be afraid, Prompt--your peace is made.
_Prompt._ Then there is my return for your lords.h.i.+p's goodness.
[_Giving the Letter._] This letter was just now brought to the place appointed, by a porter.
_Lord G._ By a Cupid, honest Prompt, and these characters were engraved by the point of his arrow! [_Kissing the Superscription._] "To ---- Heartly, Esq." Blandish, did you ever see any thing like it?
_Blandish._ If her style be equal to her hand-writing--
_Lord G._ If it be equal!--Infidel! you shall have proof directly.
[_Opens the Letter precipitately._] Hey-day! what the devil's here? my bills again, and no line--not a word--Death and disappointment, what's this!
_Prompt._ Gad it's well if she is not off again--'faith I never asked where the letter came from.
_Lord G._ Should you know the messenger again?
_Prompt._ I believe I should, my lord. For a Cupid he was somewhat in years, about six feet high, and a nose rather given to purple.
_Lord G._ Spare your wit, sir, till you find him.
_Prompt._ I have a shorter way--my life upon it I start her myself.
_Blandish._ And what is your device, sirrah!
_Prompt._ Lord, sir, nothing so easy as to bring every living creature in this town to the window: a tame bear, or a mad ox; two men, or two dogs fighting; a balloon in the air--(or tied up to the ceiling 'tis the same thing) make but noise enough, and out they come, first and second childhood, and every thing between--I am sure I shall know her by inspiration.
_Lord G._ Shall I describe her to you?
_Prompt._ No, my lord, time is too precious--I'll be at her last lodgings, and afterwards half the town over before your lords.h.i.+p will travel from her forehead to her chin.
_Lord G._ Away then, my good fellow. He cannot mistake her, for when she was formed, nature broke the mould.
[_Exit PROMPT._
_Blandish._ Now for the blood of me, cannot I call that fellow back; it is absolute infatuation: Ah! I see how this will end.
_Lord G._ What are your apprehensions?
_Blandish._ That my ferret yonder will do his part completely; that I shall set all your uncle's doctrine at nought, and thus lend myself to this wild intrigue, till the girl is put into your arms.
_Lord G._ Propitious be the thought, my best friend--my uncle's doctrine! but advise me, how shall I keep my secret from him for the present? 'Faith, it is not very easy; Sir Clement is suspicion personified: his eye probes one's very thought.
_Blandish._ Your best chance would be to double your a.s.siduities to Miss Alscrip. But then dissimulation is so mean a vice.--
_Lord G._ It is so indeed, and if I give into it for a moment, it is upon the determination of never being her husband. I may despise and offend a woman; but disgust would be no excuse for betraying her.
Adieu, Blandish; if you see Prompt first, I trust to you for the quickest communication of intelligence.
_Blandish._ I am afraid you may--I cannot resist you. [_Exit LORD GAYVILLE._]--Ah! wrong--wrong--wrong; I hope that exclamation is not lost. A blind compliance with a young man's pa.s.sions is a poor plot upon his affections.
[_Exit._
SCENE III.
_MRS. SAGELY's House_.
_Enter MRS. SAGELY and MISS ALTON._
