_Enter_ SIR GEORGE, _followed by_ BLUNTLY.
SIR GEORGE.
What's o'clock? [_Rubbing his eyes._
BLUNTLY.
Just noon, sir.
SIR GEORGE.
Why was I waked so early?
BLUNTLY.
You were not waked, sir--You rung.
SIR GEORGE.
Then it was in my sleep--and could not you suppose so?----After going
to bed at five, to make me rise at noon! (_in a violent passion_) What
am I to do with myself, sir, till it is time to go out for the
evening?
BLUNTLY.
You have company to dinner you know, sir.
SIR GEORGE.
No, it is to supper--and what am I to do with myself till that time?
BLUNTLY.
Company again to supper, Sir?
SIR GEORGE.
Yes, and the self-same company I had last night--I invited them upon
Lady Caroline's account--to give her an opportunity of revenge, for
the money she lost here yesterday evening--and I am all weariness--I
am all lassitude and fretfulness till the time arrives.--But now I
call to mind, I have an affair that may engage my attention a few
hours. You were giving me an account, Bluntly, of that beautiful girl
I saw enter at Blackman's?
BLUNTLY.
Yes, sir, I saw her late last night in Mr. Blackman's house--she
lodges there.
SIR GEORGE.
Indeed? In Blackman's house? I am glad to hear it.
BLUNTLY.
And he has assured me, sir, that she and her family are in the
greatest poverty imaginable.
SIR GEORGE.
I am glad to hear it.
BLUNTLY.
They have been it seems above a twelvemonth in London, in search of
some rich relations; but instead of meeting with them, the father was
seen and remembered by an old creditor who has thrown him into prison.
SIR GEORGE.
I am very glad to hear it.
BLUNTLY.
But the young woman, Sir, has been so short a time in town, she has,
seemingly, a great deal of modesty and virtue.
SIR GEORGE.
And I am very glad to hear of that too--I like her the better--you
know I do--for I am weary of that ready compliance I meet with from
the sex.
BLUNTLY.
But if I might presume to advise, sir--as you are so soon to be
married to her ladyship, whom you love with sincere affection, you
should give up this pursuit.
SIR GEORGE.
And I _shall_ give it up, Bluntly, before my marriage takes
place--for, short as that time may be, I expect this passion will be
over and forgotten, long before the interval has passed away.--But
that brother you were mentioning----
BLUNTLY.
I have some reason to think, that with all his poverty, he has a
notion of honour.
SIR GEORGE. [_Laughing._
Oh! I have often tried the effect of a purse of gold with people of
honour.--Have you desired them to be sent for as I ordered.
BLUNTLY.
I have, Sir.
SIR GEORGE.
See if they are come. [_Exit_ BLUNTLY.] Ah! my dear Lady Caroline, it
is you, and only you, whom I love with a sincere passion! but in
waiting this long expected event of our marriage, permit me to indulge
some less exalted wishes.
_Enter_ BLUNTLY.
SIR GEORGE.
Are they come?
BLUNTLY.
The young man is in the anti-chamber, sir, but his sister is not with
him. (_Speaking to_ HENRY _who is without_) Please to walk this
way--my master desires to see you.
SIR GEORGE.
No, no, no--I do not desire to see him, if his sister is not
there.--Zounds you scoundrel what did you call him in for?
_Enter_ HENRY, _and bows_.
[SIR GEORGE _looks at him with a careless familiarity_--BLUNTLY
_leaves the room_.]
SIR GEORGE.
Young man, I am told you are very poor--you may have heard that I am
very rich--and I suppose you are acquainted with the extensive meaning
of the word--generosity.
HENRY. [_After an hesitation._]
Perhaps not, sir.
SIR GEORGE.
The meaning of it, as I comprehend, is, for the rich to give to the
poor.--Have you any thing to ask of me in which I can serve you?
HENRY.
Your proposal is so general, I am at a loss what to answer--but you
are no doubt acquainted with the extensive meaning of the word,
_pride_,--and that will apologize for the seeming indifference with
which I receive your offer.
SIR GEORGE.
Your pride seems extensive indeed.--I heard your father was in prison,
and I pitied him.
HENRY.
Did you, Sir?--Did you pity my father:--I beg your pardon--if I have
said any thing to offend you pray forgive it--nor let my rudeness turn
your companion away from him, to any other object.
SIR GEORGE.
Would a small sum release him from confinement? Would about a hundred
pounds----
HENRY.
I have no doubt but it would.
SIR GEORGE.
Then take that note.----Be not surprised--I mean to dispose of a
thousand guineas this way, instead of fitting up a theatre in my own
house.--That (_giving him the note_) is a mere trifle; my box at the
opera, or my dinner; I mean to dine alone to morrow, instead of
inviting company.
HENRY.
Sir George, I spoke so rudely to you at first, that I know no other
way to shew my humility, than to accept your present without
reluctance.--I do therefore, as the gift of benevolence, not as the
insult of better fortune.
SIR GEORGE.
You have a brother, have not you?
HENRY.
No, Sir--and only one sister.
SIR GEORGE.
A sister is it? well, let me see your father and your brother--your
sister I mean--did not you say?--you said a sister, did not you?
HENRY.
Yes, Sir.
SIR GEORGE.
Well, let me see your father and her; they will rejoice at their good
fortune I imagine, and I wish to be a witness of their joy.
HENRY.
I will this moment go to our lawyer, extricate my father, and we will
all return and make you the spectator of the happiness you have
bestowed.
Forgive my eagerness to disclose your bounty, sir, if, before I have
said half I feel, I fly to reveal it to my father; to whom I can more
powerfully express my sensations--than in your presence. [_Exit._
SIR GEORGE.
That bait has taken--and now, if the sister will only be as grateful.
_Enter_ BLUNTLY.
BLUNTLY.
Dear sir, what can you have said to the young man? I never saw a
person so much affected!
SIR GEORGE.
In what manner?
BLUNTLY.
The tears ran down his cheeks as he passed along, and he held
something in his hand which he pressed to his lips, and then to his
heart, as if it was a treasure.
SIR GEORGE.
It is a treasure, Bluntly--a hundred Guineas.
BLUNTLY.
But for which, I believe, you expect a greater treasure in return.
SIR GEORGE.
Dost think so Bluntly?--dost think the girl is worth a hundred pounds?
BLUNTLY.
If she refuses, she is worth a thousand--but if she complies, you have
thrown away your money.
SIR GEORGE.
Just the reverse.
BLUNTLY.
But I hope, sir, you do not mean to throw away any more thus--for
although this sum, by way of charity, may be well applied, yet indeed,
sir, I know some of your creditors as much in want as this poor
family.
SIR GEORGE.
How!--You are in pay by some of my creditors I suppose?
BLUNTLY.
No, Sir, you must pay them, before they can pay any body.
SIR GEORGE.
You are impertinent--leave the room instantly, and go in search of
this sister; now, while the son is gone to release his father.--Tell
her, her brother is here, and bring her hither immediately.
BLUNTLY.
But, sir, if you will only give me leave to speak one word--
SIR GEORGE.
Do, speak; [_Goes to the chimney-piece and takes down a pistol_] only
speak a single syllable, and I'll send a ball instantly through your
head.
BLUNTLY.
I am dumb, Sir--I don't speak indeed, Sir--upon my life I don't. I
wish I may die if I speak a word.
SIR GEORGE.
Go on the errand I told you; and if you dare to return without the
girl this is your fate. [_Holding up the pistol._
BLUNTLY.
Yes, Sir. [_Exit._
SIR GEORGE. [_Laying the pistol on the table._
Impertinent puppy; to ruffle the temper of a man of fashion with hints
of prudence and morality, and paying his debts--all this from a
servant too. The insolent, chattering----
_Enter_ BLUNTLY.
BLUNTLY.
May I speak now, sir?
SIR GEORGE.
What have you to say?
BLUNTLY.
Mr. Blackman, sir.
SIR GEORGE.
Bid him come in.
_Enter_ BLACKMAN. _Exit_ BLUNTLY.
SIR GEORGE.
Good morning, Mr. Blackman; come, sit down.
BLACKMAN. [_Bowing respectfully._
I am glad, Sir George, I have found you alone, for I come to speak to
you on important business.
SIR GEORGE.
Business!----no--not now if you please.
BLACKMAN.
But I must, sir--I have been here ten times before, and have been put
off, but now you must hear what I have to say.
SIR GEORGE.
Don't be long then--don't be tedious, Mr. Blackman--for I expect a,
a--in short, I expect a pretty woman.
BLACKMAN.
When she comes, I will go.
SIR GEORGE.
Very well, speak quickly then. What have you to say?
BLACKMAN.
I come to speak upon the subject of your father's will; by which you
know, you run the hazard of losing great part of what he left behind.
SIR GEORGE.
But what am I to do?
BLACKMAN.
There is no time to be lost. Consider, that Mr. Manly, the lawyer,
whom your father employed, is a man who pretends to a great deal of
morality; and it was he who, when your father found himself dying,
alarmed his conscience, and persuaded him to make this Will in favour
of a second person. Now, I think that you and I both together, ought
to have a meeting with this conscientious lawyer.
SIR GEORGE.
But I should imagine, Mr. Blackman, that if he is really a
conscientious man, you and he will not be upon good terms.
BLACKMAN.
Oh! people of our avocation differ in respect to conscience. Puzzle,
confound, and abuse each other, and yet are upon good terms.
SIR GEORGE.
But I fear----
BLACKMAN.
Fear nothing.--There are a vast number of resources in our art.--It is
so spacious, and yet so confined--so sublime, and yet so profound--so
distinct, and yet so complicated--that if ever this person with whom
your fortune is divided should be found, I know how to envelope her
in a labyrinth, where she shall be lost again in a hurry.----But your
father's lawyer being a very honest--I mean a very particular man in
his profession,--I have reason to fear we cannot gain him over to our
purpose.--If, therefore,--
_Enter_ BLUNTLY.
SIR GEORGE.
My visitor is come, as I told you.
BLACKMAN. [_Rising._
And I am gone, as I told you. [_Going._
_Enter_ ELEANOR.
BLACKMAN. [_Aside._
My lodger! ah! ah! (_To her in a whisper_) You may stay another
quarter. [_Exit._
SIR GEORGE.
(_To_ Eleanor) I am glad to see you.--Bluntly--
[_Makes a sign to him to leave the room._
BLUNTLY.
Sir?
[SIR GEORGE _waves his hand and nods his head a second
time_.
BLUNTLY.
Sir?----
[_Still affecting not to understand him._
SIR GEORGE.
I bid you go. [_Angrily._
BLUNTLY.
You bid me go, sir?--Oh yes, sir.--Very well, sir.--But indeed, sir, I
did not hear you before, sir.--Indeed I did not.
[_Bows, and exit with reluctance, which_ ELEANOR _observes_.
ELEANOR.
Pardon me, sir.--I understood my brother was here, but I find he is
not.
SIR GEORGE.
He is but this instant gone, and will return immediately.--Stay then
with me till he comes. (_Takes her hand._) Surely you cannot refuse to
remain with me a few moments; especially as I have a great deal to say
to you that may tend to your advantage.
Why do you cast your eyes with such impatience on that door? (_Goes
and locks it._) There, now you may look at it in vain.
ELEANOR.
For heaven sake, why am I locked in?
SIR GEORGE.
Because you should not escape.
ELEANOR.
That makes me resolve I will--Open the door, sir. [_Going to it._
SIR GEORGE.
Nay, listen to me. Your sentiments, I make no doubt, are formed from
books.
ELEANOR.
No, from misfortunes--yet more instructive.
SIR GEORGE.
You shall never know misfortune more--you, nor your relations.--But
this moment I presented your brother with a sum of money, and he left
me with professions of the deepest gratitude.
ELEANOR.
My brother!--Has he received money from you? Ah! he promised me he'd
not disgrace his family.
SIR GEORGE.
How! Family, indeed!
ELEANOR.
I cannot remain here a moment longer. Open the door, sir--open it
immediately. [_Raising her voice._
BLUNTLY. [_Without._
Sir, sir, sir,--open the door, if you please--you are wanted, sir.
SIR GEORGE.
S'death! who can want me in such haste? [_Opens the door, and appears
confounded._
_Enter_ BLUNTLY.
SIR GEORGE.
Well, sir!
BLUNTLY.
----Did you call, sir?
SIR GEORGE.
It was _you_ who called, sir.
BLUNTLY.
Who, I, sir?
SIR GEORGE.
Yes, sir, you--Who wants me?
BLUNTLY. [_Looking at_ ELEANOR.
Perhaps it was _you_ that called, Ma'am.
ELEANOR.
It _was_ I that called: and pray be so kind as to conduct me to my own
lodgings.
[BLUNTLY _offers her his hand_.
SIR GEORGE.
Dare not to touch her--or to stay another moment in the room.--Begone.
[BLUNTLY _looks at_ ELEANOR _aside, and points to the
pistol; then bows humbly, and retires_.
SIR GEORGE.
And now, my fair Lucretia----
[_He is going to seize her--she takes up the pistol and
presents it._
ELEANOR.
No, it's not _myself_ I'll kill--'Tis you.
SIR GEORGE. [_Starting._
Nay, nay, nay, lay it down.--Lay that foolish thing down; I beg you
will. (_Trembling._) It is charged--it may go off.
ELEANOR.
I mean it to go off.
SIR GEORGE.
But no jesting--I never liked jesting in my life.
ELEANOR.
Nor I--but am always serious.--Dare not, therefore, insult me again,
but let me go to my wretched apartments.
[_Passes by him, presenting the pistol._
SIR GEORGE.
Go to the----
[_She turns short at the door, and presents it again._
SIR GEORGE.
What would you do?--Here Bluntly! Bluntly! [_Exit_ ELEANOR.
_Enter_ BLUNTLY.
BLUNTLY.
Did you call or no, sir?
SIR GEORGE.
Yes, sir, I did call now. (_In a threatening accent._) Don't you think
you have behaved very well this morning?
BLUNTLY.
Yes, sir, I think I have.
SIR GEORGE.
I am not joking.
BLUNTLY.
Nor am I, sir.
SIR GEORGE.
And do not you think I should behave very well, if I was to discharge
you my service?
BLUNTLY.
As well as can be expected, sir.
SIR GEORGE.
Why did you break in upon me just now? Did you think I was going to
murder the girl?
BLUNTLY.
No, sir, I suspected neither love nor murder.
SIR GEORGE.
What then did you suspect?
BLUNTLY.
Why, sir, if I may make bold to speak--I was afraid the poor girl
might be robbed: and of all she is worth in the world.
SIR GEORGE.
Blockhead! I suppose you mean her virtue? [_Smiling with contempt._
BLUNTLY.
Why, to say the truth, sir, virtue is a currency that grows scarce in
the world now-a-days--and some men are so much in need of it, that
they think nothing of stopping a harmless female passenger in her road
through life, and plundering her of it without remorse, though its
loss, embitters every hour she must afterwards pass in her journey.
_Enter_ HENRY.
HENRY.
Sir George, my father, liberated from prison by your bounty, is come
gratefully to offer----
_Enter_ WILLFORD _and_ ELEANOR.
ELEANOR.
[_Holding her father by the hand, to prevent his going forward._
Oh, my father! whither are you going? Turn back--turn back.
HENRY. [_To his father._
This is your benefactor--the man whose benevolence has put an end to
your sufferings.
[ELEANOR _bursts into tears and retires up the stage_.
WILLFORD.
How, sir, can I ever repay what I owe to you?--or how describe those
emotions, which your goodness at this moment makes me feel?
SIR GEORGE. [_In confusion._
Very well--very well--'tis all very well. (_Aside_) I wish it
was.--(_To him_) I am glad I have been of service to you.
WILLFORD.
You have been like mercy to us all. My daughter's gratitude overflows
in tears.--But why, my child, do you keep apart from us? Can you be
too timid to confess your obligation?
SIR GEORGE.
Let her alone--let her indulge her humour.
WILLFORD.
Speak, Eleanor.
SIR GEORGE.
No, I had rather she would be silent.
WILLFORD.
You offend me by this obstinacy.
ELEANOR. [_Going to_ WILLFORD _and taking his hand_.
Oh, my father!--Oh! I cannot----I cannot speak.
WILLFORD.
Wherefore?--Explain this moment, what agitates you thus.
ELEANOR.
You must return to confinement again.
WILLFORD.
How?
ELEANOR.
The money that has set you free, was given for the basest
purposes--and by a man as far beneath you in principle, as you are
beneath him in fortune. Disdain the obligation--and come my father,
return to prison.
WILLFORD.
Yes.--And with more joy than I left it. (_To_ SIR GEORGE) Joy, in my
daughter's virtuous contempt of thee. (_To his children_) Leave the
house instantly.
[_Exit_ HENRY _and_ ELEANOR.
WILLFORD. [_Addressing himself to_ SIR GEORGE.
Your present is but deposited in a lawyer's hands, whose word gained
me my liberty--he shall immediately return it to you, while I return
to imprisonment.
SIR GEORGE.
If the money is in a lawyer's hands, my good friend, it may be some
time before you get it returned. [_Going._
WILLFORD.
Stay, Sir George--(_he returns_) And look me in the face while you
insult me. (SIR GEORGE _looks on the floor_.) You cannot.--I therefore
triumph, while you stand before me abashed like a culprit.--Yet be
assured, unthinking, dissipated man, that with all your insolence and
cruelty towards me and mine, I have still the charity to rejoice, even
for your sake, at seeing you thus confounded. This shame is at least
one trait in your favour; and while it revenges my wrongs, gives me
joy to find, you are not a _hardened_ libertine. [_Exeunt._
END OF THE SECOND ACT.