_Enter Sir_ George, _and Lady_ Frances.
_Sir Geo._ The bird is escaped--Courtall is gone to France.
_Lady Fran._ Heaven and earth! Have ye been to seek him?
_Sir Geo._ Seek him! Aye.
_Lady Fran._ How did you get his name? I should never have told it you.
_Sir Geo._ I learnt it in the first Coffee-house I entered.--Every body
is full of the story.
_Lady Fran._ Thank Heaven! he's gone!--But I have a story for you--The
Hardy family are forming a plot upon your Friend Doricourt, and we are
expected in the evening to assist.
_Sir Geo._ With all my heart, my Angel; but I can't stay to hear it
unfolded. They told me Mr. Saville would be at home in half an hour,
and I am impatient to see him. The adventure of last night----
_Lady Fran._ Think of it only with gratitude. The danger I was in has
overset a new system of conduct, that, perhaps, I was too much inclined
to adopt. But henceforward, my dear Sir George, you shall be my constant
Companion, and Protector. And, when they ridicule the unfashionable
Monsters, the felicity of our hearts shall make their satire pointless.
_Sir Geo._ Charming Angel! You almost reconcile me to Courtall. Hark!
here's company (_stepping to the door._) 'Tis your lively Widow--I'll
step down the back stairs, to escape her. [_Exit Sir_ George.
_Enter Mrs._ Racket.
_Mrs. Rack._ Oh, Lady Frances! I am shock'd to death.--Have you received
a card from us?
_Lady Fran._ Yes; within these twenty minutes.
_Mrs. Rack._ Aye, 'tis of no consequence.----'Tis all over--Doricourt is
mad.
_Lady Fran._ Mad!
_Mrs. Rack._ My poor Letitia!--Just as we were enjoying ourselves with
the prospect of a scheme that was planned for their mutual happiness, in
came Flutter, breathless, with the intelligence:--I flew here to know if
you had heard it.
_Lady Fran._ No, indeed--and I hope it is one of Mr. Flutter's dreams.
_Enter_ Saville.
A-propos; now we shall be informed. Mr. Saville, I rejoice to see you,
though Sir George will be disappointed: he's gone to your lodgings.
_Sav._ I should have been happy to have prevented Sir George. I hope
your Ladyship's adventure last night did not disturb your dreams?
_Lady Fran._ Not at all; for I never slept a moment. My escape, and the
importance of my obligations to you, employed my thoughts. But we have
just had shocking intelligence--Is it true that Doricourt is mad?
_Sav._ So; the business is done. (_Aside._) Madam, I am sorry to say,
that I have just been a melancholy witness of his ravings: he was in the
height of a paroxysm.
_Mrs. Rack._ Oh, there can be no doubt of it. Flutter told us the whole
history. Some Italian Princess gave him a drug, in a box of sweetmeats,
sent to him by her own page; and it renders him lunatic every month.
Poor Miss Hardy! I never felt so much on any occasion in my life.
_Sav._ To soften your concern, I will inform you, Madam, that Miss
Hardy is less to be pitied than you imagine.
_Mrs. Rack._ Why so, Sir?
_Sav._ 'Tis rather a delicate subject--but he did not love Miss Hardy.
_Mrs. Rack._ He did love Miss Hardy, Sir, and would have been the
happiest of men.
_Sav._ Pardon me, Madam; his heart was not only free from that Lady's
chains, but absolutely captivated by another.
_Mrs. Rack._ No, Sir--no. It was Miss Hardy who captivated him. She met
him last night at the Masquerade, and charmed him in disguise--He
professed the most violent passion for her; and a plan was laid, this
evening, to cheat him into happiness.
_Sav._ Ha! ha! ha!--Upon my soul, I must beg your pardon; I have not
eaten of the Italian Princess's box of sweetmeats, sent by her own page;
and yet I am as mad as Doricourt, ha! ha! ha!
_Mrs. Rack._ So it appears--What can all this mean?
_Sav._ Why, Madam, he is at present in his perfect senses; but he'll
lose 'em in ten minutes, through joy.--The madness was only a feint, to
avoid marrying Miss Hardy, ha! ha! ha!--I'll carry him the intelligence
directly. (_Going._)
_Mrs. Rack._ Not for worlds. I owe him revenge, now, for what he has
made us suffer. You must promise not to divulge a syllable I have told
you; and when Doricourt is summoned to Mr. Hardy's, prevail on him to
come--madness, and all.
_Lady Fran._ Pray do. I should like to see him shewing off, now I am in
the secret.
_Sav._ You must be obeyed; though 'tis inhuman to conceal his happiness.
_Mrs. Rack._ I am going home; so I'll set you down at his lodgings, and
acquaint you, by the way, with our whole scheme. _Allons!_
_Sav._ I attend you (_leading her out._)
_Mrs. Rack._ You won't fail us? [_Exit_ Saville, _and Mrs._ Racket.
_Lady Fran._ No; depend on us. [_Exit._