_Enter_ Sir JOLLY JUMBLE.
_Sir Jol._ Bloody-Bones!
_Enter_ BLOODY-BONES.
_Bloody-B._ I am here, sir.
_Sir Jol._ Go you and Fourbin to my house presently; bid
Monsieur Fourbin remember that all things be ordered according
to my directions. Tell my maids, too, I am coming home in a
trice; bid 'em get the great chamber, and the banquet I spoke
for, ready presently. And, d'ye hear, carry the minstrels with
ye too, for I am resolved to rejoice this morning. Let me
see--Sir Davy!
_Enter_ Sir DAVY DUNCE.
_Sir Dav._ Ay, neighbour, 'tis I; is the business done? I
cannot be satisfied till I am sure: have you removed the body?
is it gone?
_Sir Jol._ Yes, yes, my servants conveyed it out of the house
just now. Well, Sir Davy, a good morning to you: I wish you
your health, with all my heart, Sir Davy; the first thing you
do, though, I'd have you say your prayers by all means, if you
can.
_Sir Dav._ If I can possibly, I will.
_Sir Jol._ Well, good-bye. [_Exit._
_Sir Dav._ Well, good-bye heartily, good neighbour.--Vermin,
Vermin!
_Enter_ VERMIN.
_Ver._ Did your honour call?
_Sir Dav._ Go run, run presently over the square, and call the
constable presently; tell him here's murder committed, and
that I must speak with him instantly. I'll e'en carry him to
my neighbour's, that he may find the dead body there, and so
let my neighbour be very fairly hanged in my stead; ha! a very
good jest, as I hope to live, ha, ha, ha!--hey, what's that?
_Watchmen._ [_Within._] Almost four o'clock, and a dark cloudy
morning; good-morrow, my masters all, good-morrow!
_Enter_ Constable _and_ Watch.
_Const._ How's this, a door open! Come in, gentlemen.--Ah, Sir
Davy, your honour's humble servant; I and my watch, going my
morning-rounds, and finding your door open, made bold to enter,
to see there were no danger. Your worship will excuse our care;
a good morning to you, sir.
_Sir Dav._ Oh, Master Constable, I'm glad you're here; I sent
my man just now to call you. I have sad news to tell you,
Master Constable.
_Const._ I am sorry for that, sir; sad news!
_Sir Dav._ Oh, ay, sad news, very sad news truly: here has been
murder committed.
_Const._ Murder! if that's all, we are your humble servants,
sir, we'll bid you good-morrow: murder's nothing at this time
o' night in Covent-garden.
_Sir Dav._ Oh, but this is a horrid, bloody murder, done under
my nose; I cannot but take notice of it; though I am sorry to
tell you the authors of it, very sorry truly.
_Const._ Was it committed here near hand?
_Sir Dav._ Oh, at the very next door; a sad murder indeed.
After they had done, they carried the body privately into my
neighbour Sir Jolly's house here; I am sorry to tell it you,
Master Constable, for I am afraid it will look but scurvily on
his side; though I am a justice o' peace, gentlemen, and am
bound by my oath to take notice of it; I can't help it.
_1st Watch._ I never liked that Sir Jolly.
_Const._ He threatened me t'other day for carrying a little,
dirty, draggle-tailed whore to Bridewell, and said she was his
cousin. Sir, if your worship thinks fit, we'll go search his
house.
_Sir Dav._ Oh, by all means, gentlemen, it must be so; justice
must have its course; the king's liege subjects must not be
destroyed.--Vermin, carry Master Constable and his dragons into
the cellar, and make 'em drink; I'll but step into my study,
put on my face of authority, and call upon ye instantly.
_Watchmen._ We thank your honour. [_Exeunt._
[Illustration]