SCENE __Charles_’s Lodging._

  Enter Charles_ and Marplot._

Char. Honest Marplot, I thank thee for this Supply; I expect my Lawyer with a Thousand Pound I have order’d him to take up, and then you shall be Repaid.

Marpl. Pho, pho, no more of that:  Here comes Sir George Airy—­

      Enter Sir George_._

Cursedly out of Humour at his Disappointment; see how he looks!  Ha, ha, ha.

Sir Geo. Ah, Charles, I am so humbled in my Pretensions to Plots upon Women, that I believe I shall never have Courage enough to attempt a Chamber-maid agen—­I’ll tell thee.

Char. Ha, ha; I’ll spare you the Relation by telling you—­Impatient to know your Business with my Father, when I saw you Enter, I slipt back into the next Room, where I overheard every Syllable.

Sir Geo. That I said—­But I’ll be hang’d if you heard her Answer—.  But prithee tell me, Charles, is she a Fool?

Char. I ne’er suspected her for one; but Marplot can inform you better, if you’ll allow him a Judge.

Marpl. A Fool!  I’ll justifie she has more Wit than all the rest of her Sex put together; why she’ll Rally me, till I han’t one word to say for my self.

Char. A mighty Proof of her Wit truly—­

Marpl. There must be some Trick in’t, Sir George; Egad I’ll find it out if it cost me the Sum you paid for’t.

Sir Geo. Do and Command me—­

Marpl. Enough, let me alone to Trace a Secret.—­

  Enter Whisper_, and speaks aside to his Master._

The Devil! Whisper here agen, that Fellow never speaks out; is this the same, or a new Secret?  Sir George, won’t you ask Charles what News Whisper brings?

Sir Geo. Not I, Sir; I suppose it does not relate to me.

Marpl. Lord, Lord, how little Curiosity some People have!  Now my chief Pleasure lies in knowing every Body’s Business.

Sir Geo. I fancy, Charles, thou hast some Engagement upon thy Hands:  I have a little Business too. Marplot, if it falls in your way to bring me any Intelligence from Miranda, you’ll find me at the Thatch’d House at Six—­

Marpl. You do me much Honour.

Char. You guess right, Sir George, wish me Success.

Sir Geo. Better than attended me. Adieu.
    (Exit.

Char. Marplot, you must Excuse me.—­

Marpl. Nay, nay, what need of any Excuse amongst Friends!  I’ll go with you.

Char. Indeed you must not.

Marpl. No, then I suppose ’tis a Duel, and I will go to secure ye.

Char. Secure me, why you won’t fight.

Marpl. What then!  I can call People to part ye.