Dav. Ah! do, Mrs. Aunt, save a few lives—they are desperately given, believe me.—Above all, there is that bloodthirsty Philistine, Sir Lucius O’Trigger.

Mrs. Mal. Sir Lucius O’Trigger? O mercy! have they drawn poor little dear Sir Lucius into the scrape?—Why how you stand, girl! you have no more feeling than one of the Derbyshire petrifactions!

Lyd. What are we to do, madam?

Mrs. Mal. Why, fly with the utmost felicity, to be sure, to prevent mischief!—Here, friend, you can show us the place?

Fag. If you please, ma’am, I will conduct you.—David, do you look for Sir Anthony.

[Exit David.

Mrs. Mal. Come, girls! this gentleman will exhort us.—Come, sir, you’re our envoy—lead the way, and we’ll precede.

Fag. Not a step before the ladies for the world!

Mrs. Mal. You’re sure you know the spot?

Fag. I think I can find it, ma’am; and one good thing is, we shall hear the report of the pistols as we draw near, so we can’t well miss them;—never fear, ma’am, never fear.

[Exeunt, he talking.

Scene II.—The South Parade.

Enter Captain Absolute, putting his sword under his great-coat.

Abs. A sword seen in the streets of Bath would raise as great an alarm as a mad dog.—How provoking this is in Faulkland!—never punctual! I shall be obliged to go without him at last.—Oh, the devil! here’s Sir Anthony! how shall I escape him?

[Muffles up his face, and takes a circle to go off.

Enter Sir Anthony Absolute.

Sir Anth. How one may be deceived at a little distance! Only that I see he don’t know me, I could have sworn that was Jack!— Hey! Gad’s life! it is.—Why, Jack, what are you afraid of? hey— sure I’m right. Why Jack, Jack Absolute!

[Goes up to him.

Abs. Really, sir, you have the advantage of me:—I don’t remember ever to have had the honour—my name is Saunderson, at your service.

Sir Anth. Sir, I beg your pardon—I took you—hey?—why, zounds! it is—Stay—[Looks up to his face.] So, so—your humble servant, Mr. Saunderson! Why, you scoundrel, what tricks are you after now?

Abs. Oh, a joke, sir, a joke! I came here on purpose to look for you, sir.

Sir Anth. You did! well, I am glad you were so lucky:—but what are you muffled up so for?—what’s this for?—hey?

Abs. ’Tis cool, sir, isn’t it?—rather chilly somehow:—but I shall be late—I have a particular engagement.