Croak. To a fool, I believe.

Miss Rich. But to what purpose did you

come?

Croak. To play the fool.

Miss Rich. But with whom?

Croak. With greater fools than myself.

Miss Rich. Explain.

290

Croak. Why, Mr. Honeywood brought me here, to do nothing now I am here; and my son is going to be married to I don't know who 295 that is here; so now you are as wise as I am. Miss Rich. Married! to whom, sir?

Croak. To Olivia; my daughter, as I took her to be; but who the devil she is, or whose daughter she is, I know no more than the man 300 in the moon.

Sir Will. Then, sir, I can inform you; and, tho' a stranger, yet you shall find me a friend to your family: it will be enough, at present, to assure you that, both in point of birth and fortune, 305 the young lady is at least your son's equal. Being left by her father, Sir James Woodville

Croak. Sir James Woodville! What, of the West?

Sir Will. Being left by him, I say, to the 310 care of a mercenary wretch, whose only aim was to secure her fortune to himself, she was sent into France, under pretence of education; and

life in a

there every art was tried to fix her for
convent, contrary to her inclinations. Of this I 315
was informed upon my arrival at Paris; and, as
I had been once her father's friend, I did all in
my power to frustrate her guardian's base inten-
tions. I had even meditated to rescue her from
his authority, when your son stept in with more 320
pleasing violence, gave her liberty, and you a
daughter.

Croak. But I intend to have a daughter of my own chusing, sir. A young lady, sir, whose fortune, by my interest with those that have interest, 325 will be double what my son has a right to expect! Do you know Mr. Lofty, sir?

Sir Will. Yes, sir; and know that you are deceived in him. But step this way, and I'll convince you.

Croaker and Sir William seem to confer.

Enter Honeywood.

330

Honeywood. Obstinate man, still to persist in his outrage! Insulted by him, despis'd by all, I now begin to grow contemptible, even to myself. How have I sunk by too great an assiduity to please! How have I overtax'd all my abilities, 335 lest the approbation of a single fool should escape me! But all is now over; I have survived my reputation, my fortune, my friendships, and no

thing remains henceforward for me but solitude and repentance.

Miss Rich. Is it true, Mr. Honeywood, that you are setting off without taking leave of your friends? The report is that you are quitting England. Can it be?

340

Honeyw. Yes, madam; and tho' I am so un-345 happy as to have fallen under your displeasure, yet, thank Heaven, I leave you to happiness; to one who loves you, and deserves your love; to one who has power to procure you affluence, and generosity to improve your enjoyment of it.

Miss Rich. And are you sure, sir, that the gentleman you mean is what you describe him?

350

Honeyw. I have the best assurances of it, his serving me. He does indeed deserve the highest happiness, and that is in your power to confer. 355 As for me, weak and wavering as I have been, obliged by all, and incapable of serving any, what happiness can I find but in solitude; what hope but in being forgotten?

Miss Rich. A thousand! to to live live among 360 friends that esteem you, whose happiness it will be to be permitted to oblige you.

Honeyw. No, madam; my resolution is fix'd. Inferiority among strangers is easy; but among those that once were equals, insupportable. Nay, 365 to shew you how far my resolution can go, I

can now speak with calmness of my former follies, my vanity, my dissipation, my weakness. I will even confess that, among the number of my other presumptions, I had the insolence to 370 think of loving you. Yes, madam, while I was pleading the passion of another, my heart was tortur'd with its own. But it is over, it was unworthy our friendship, and let it be forgotten. Miss Rich. You amaze me!

375

Honeyw. But you'll forgive it, I know you will; since the confession should not have come from me even now but to convince you of the sincerity of my intention of-never mentioning it more. Going. 380 Miss Rich. Stay, sir, one moment . Ha! he here

Enter Lofty.

Lofty. Is the coast clear? None but friends. I have followed you here with a trifling piece of intelligence: but it goes no farther, things 385 are not yet ripe for a discovery. I have spirits working at a certain board; your affair at the Treasury will be done in less than a thousand years. Mum!

Miss Rich. Sooner, sir, I should hope! Lofty. Why, yes, I believe it may, if it falls into proper hands, that know where to push and 383 friends. O1, friends?

390

where to parry; that know how the land lies eh, Honeywood?

Miss Rich. It is fallen into yours.

395

Lofty. Well, to keep you no longer in suspense, your thing is done. It is done, I say that's all. I have just had assurances from Lord Neverout that the claim has been examined, and found admissible. Quietus is the word,400 madam.

Honeyw. But how! his Lordship has been at Newmarket these ten days!

Lofty. Indeed! Then Sir Gilbert Goose must have been most damnably mistaken. I had it 405 of him.

Miss Rich. He! why, Sir Gilbert and his family have been in the country this month! Lofty. This month! It must certainly be so

Sir Gilbert's letter did come to me from New-410 market, so that he must have met his Lordship there; and so it came about. I have his letter about me; I'll read it to you. (Taking out a large bundle.) That's from Paoli of Corsica, that from the Marquis of Squilachi.-Have 415 you a mind to see a letter from Count Poniatowski, now King of Poland-Honest Pon

Searching.

I'll tell you

O, sir, what, are you here too?
what, honest friend, if you have not absolutely