Acres. Thank you, my dear friend, my dear Jack; but it is giving you a great deal of trouble.

Abs. Not in the least—I beg you won’t mention it.—No trouble in the world, I assure you.

Acres. You are very kind.—What it is to have a friend!— You couldn’t be my second, could you, Jack?

Abs. Why no, Bob—not in this affair—it would not be quite so proper.

Acres. Well, then, I must get my friend Sir Lucius. I shall have your good wishes, however, Jack?

Abs. Whenever he meets you, believe me.

Re-enter Servant.

Ser. Sir Anthony Absolute is below, inquiring for the captain.

Abs. I’ll come instantly.—[Exit Servant.] Well, my little hero, success attend you.

[Going.

Acres. Stay—stay, Jack.—If Beverley should ask you what kind of a man your friend Acres is, do tell him I am a devil of a fellow—will you, Jack?

Abs. To be sure I shall. I’ll say you are a determined dog —hey, Bob?

Acres. Ah, do, do—and if that frightens him, egad, perhaps he mayn’t come. So tell him I generally kill a man a week; will you, Jack?

Abs. I will, I will; I’ll say you are called in the country Fighting Bob.

Acres. Right—right—’tis all to prevent mischief; for I don’t want to take his life if I clear my honour.

Abs. No!—that’s very kind of you.

Acres. Why, you don’t wish me to kill him—do you, Jack?

Abs. No, upon my soul, I do not. But a devil of a fellow, hey?

[Going.

Acres. True, true—but stay—stay Jack,—you may add, that you never saw me in such a rage before—a most devouring rage!

Abs. I will, I will.

Acres. Remember, Jack—a determined dog!

Abs. Ay, ay, Fighting Bob!

[Exeunt severally.

Scene II.—Mrs. Malaprop’s Lodgings.

Mrs. Malaprop and Lydia.

Mrs. Mal. Why, thou perverse one!—tell me what you can object to him? Isn’t he a handsome man?—tell me that. A genteel man? a pretty figure of a man?