_Frederick’s room as before._
_Enter FREDERICK and RICARDO._
_FREDERICK_ (_hastily_).
Good-bye: I’m off. Speed you as well as I.
Laura is to meet me in the park: an hour
Will put us out of reach.
_RICARDO._
Farewell. God speed you!
All is prepared at Milan; and ere you are married,
I shall be accepted.
_F._ Write me word.
_R._ I will.
_F._ I’ll not believe it till I see your hand.
_R._ Not if Diana write herself?
_F._ To me?
That might persuade me. Good luck to you, Richard!
And thanks for all your favours.
_R._ Favours! eh! 2730
To an old friend! Well. Good-bye!
_F._ Good-bye.
[_Taking up coat, Exit._
_R._ (_leisurely_). He’s gone. Bravo! give him two minutes more
And he will be clean gone: and when he is gone
I shall not fear to tell Diana all.—
He is lost to her; and that I have won her liking
Ends her caprice. Now, ’tis my pleasant duty
To send my letter to Sir Gregory (_takes out letter and
peruses it_).
And open his eyes: he must not be left groping.
(_looking it over._) First who I am; and what I have done, and do
To assist his daughter in her happy match. 2740
When he knows that, he’ll bless me: and he must tell
Diana of Frederick’s marriage; but of me
Keep counsel awhile—better to put that plainer (_goes
to inkstand and writes_).
Yet a slight hint of something to Diana,
If I could manage it, would serve me well.
_Enter Tristram._
(_still writing._) Ah, Tristram: come in, Tristram:
(_aside._) This leaky fool is just the man to do it.—
Lend me your company for half an hour.
_TRISTRAM._
Your company! here’s wonders. I never knew you
ask that before. ’Twas always stand off, Tristram:
and you may go, Tristram: and we don’t want you,
Tristram. What’s come to you now, that you ask my
company?
_R._ Your master’s gone, Tristram; and I shall feel lonely.
_T._ My master is gone: and, as I believe, many
thanks to you. I don’t know why ever you came here;
but since you came all has gone wrong: there’s been
more secrets and less sense: and now my master, or
I should say, my late master, has quarrelled with the
Countess and me; and I am turned loose on the world.
_R._ Do you want a fresh place, Tristram?
_T._ If I did, you are scarcely the man I should look
to; thank you all the same.
_R._ I could give you some good advice.
_T._ I don’t want your advice neither, sir.
R. You love secrets, though: I have one I could tell you.
_T._ I have had enough of secrets. I wish you could
tell me something that isn’t a secret.
_R._ It’s no secret, Tristram, that you love Miss Flora.
_T._ No, damn it: but it was a secret: and the best
of them all. But now my master’s gone, I dare tell you
a secret, sir. I always disliked you extremely from the
first: and I don’t think better of you now.—I have to
put a few things together before the maids come to do
the room; and if you don’t go, I shall leave you to be
dusted out. 2780
_R._ Wait, Tristram: I can teach you better manners.
And I have a service to ask of you. Here’s a purse to
help you and Flora. (_giving._)
_T._ Well, this is a different matter. I am sure,
sir, I am very much obliged to you. But I never
saw the colour of your money before. (_Aside._) More
ducats!
_R._ No: because you served me better by trying to
disoblige me. Now I pay you to oblige me in a trifling
matter. ’Tis to find out Sir Gregory and deliver this
letter to him.
_T._ Certainly, sir. Is there anything else that you
may require, sir?
_R._ Yes. Just light me a taper, and I’ll seal the
letter. You see I don’t trust you altogether, Tristram:
not yet.
_T._ You may, sir. I want no more of Mr. Frederick’s
secrets. Not that they were at all times unprofitable,
though he never himself gave me a penny on their
account. 2800
_R._ (_having sealed_). Here ’tis. Will you please take
it at once?
_T._ (_taking_). I will, sir. (_Aside._) More secrets still:
and more ducats. [_Exit._
_R._ Enough should grow to reach Diana’s ears
From Tristram’s curiosity. Meanwhile
I’ll watch my time. My rival’s safely gone ...
But how to face Diana? I think ’tis best
To take her by surprise: a weaker force 2809
Then overwhelms. I will go change my dress. [_Exit._