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in love, and can by no means be calculated to describe the imaginary passions, without being very susceptible of the real ones.

Enter a Servant.

Sery. The man, madam, from Tavistock-street, has brought home the dresses, for the masquerade, and desires to know if there are any commands for him.

Mrs. Bel. O, bid him stay till we see the dresses,

Miss Wal. They are only dominos.

[Exit Servant.

Bel. I am glad of that; for characters are as difficult to be supported at the masquerade, as they are in real life. The last time I was at the Pantheon, a vestal virgin invited me to sup with her, and swore that her pocket had been picked by a justice of peace. Miss Wal. Nay, that was not so bad as the Hamlet's Ghost that boxed with Henry the Eighth, and afterwards danced a hornpipe to the tune of Nancy Dawson. Ha, ha, ha 1- We follow you, Mrs. Belville.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

Changes to LEESON's Chambers in the Temple. Enter
LEESON.

Lees. Where is this clerk of mine? Connolly !
Con. [Behind.] Here, sir.

Lees. Have you copied the marriage-settlement, as I corrected it?

Enter CONNOLLY, with Pistols.

Con. Ay, honey, an hour ago.

Lees. What, you have been trying those pistols? Con. By my soul I have been firing them this half hour, without once being able to make them go off. Lees. They are plaguy dirty.

Con. In troth, so they are; I strove to brighten them up a little, but some misfortune attends every thing I do, for the more I clane them, the dirtier they are, honey.

Lees. You have had some of your usual daily visitors for money, I suppose.

Con. You may say that! and three or four of them are now hanging about the door, that I wish handsomely hang'd any where else for bodering us.

Lees. No joking, Connolly! my present situation is a very disagreeable one.

Con. Faith, and so it is; but who makes it disagreeable? your aunt Tempest would let you have as much money as you please, but you won't condescend to be acquainted with her, though people in this country can be very intimate friends, without seeing one another's faces for seven years.

Lees. Do you think me base enough to receive a favour from a woman, who has disgraced her family, and stoops to be a kept mistress you see, my sister is already ruin'd by a connection with her.

Con. Ah, sir, a good guinea isn't the worse for coming through a bad hand; if it was, what would be. come of us lawyers? and by my soul, many a high head in London, would, at this minute be very low, if they hadn't received favours even from much worse people than kept mistresses.

Lees. Others, Connolly, may prostitute their honour, as they please; mine is my chief possession, and I must take particular care of it.

Con. Honour, to be sure, is a very fine thing, sir; but I don't see how it is to be taken care of, without a little money; your honour to my knowledge, hasn't been in your own possession these two years, and the devil a crum can you honestly swear by, till you get it out of the hands of your creditors.

Lees. I have given you a licence to talk, Connolly, because I know you are faithful; but I hav'n't given you a liberty to sport with my misfortunes.

Con. You know I'd die to serve you, sir; but of what use is your giving me leave to spake, if you oblige me to hould my tongue? 'tis out of pure love and affection that I put you in mind of your misfor.

tunes.

Lees. Well, Connolly, a few days will, in all probability, enable me to redeem my honour, and to reward your fidelity; the lovely Emily, you know, has half-consented to embrace the first opportunity of flying with me to Scotland, and the paltry trifles, I we, will not be miss'd in her fortune.

Con. But, dear sir, consider you are going to fight a duel this very evening, and if you should be kilt, I fancy you will find it a little difficult to run away afterwards with the lovely Emily.

Lees. If I fall, there will be an end to my misfor

tunes.

Con. But surely it will not be quite genteel, to go out of the world without paying your debts.

Lees. But how shall I stay in the world, Connolly, without punishing Belville for ruining my sister?

Con. O, the devil fly away with this honour; an ounce of common sense, is worth a whole ship load of it, if we must prefer a bullet or a halter to a fine young lady and a great fortune.

Lees. We'll talk no more on the subject at present. Take this letter to Mr. Belville; deliver it into his own hand, be sure; and bring me an answer: make haste, for I shall not stir out till you come back.

Con. By my soul, I wish you may be able to stir out then-O, but that's true!

Lees. What's the matter?

Con. Why, sir, the gentleman I last liv'd clerk with, died lately, and left me a legacy of twenty guineas

Lees. What! is Mr. Stanley dead?

Con. Faith, his friends have behav'd very unkindly if he is not, for they have buried him these six

weeks.

Lees. And what then?

Con. Why, sir, I received my little legacy this morning, and if you'd be so good as to keep it for me, I'd be much oblig'd to you.

Lees. Connolly, I understand you, but I am already shamefully in your debt: you've had no money from me this age

Con. O, sir, that does not signify; if you are not kilt in this damn'd duel, you'll be able enough to pay me: if you are, I sha'n't want it.

Lees. Why so, my poor fellow ?

Con. Because, though I am but your clerk, and though I think fighting the most foolish thing upon earth, I'm as much a gentleman as yourself, and have as much right to commit a murder in the way of duelling.

Lees. And what then? You have no quarrel with Mr. Belville ?

Con. I shall have a damn'd quarrel with him though if you are kilt: your death shall be reveng'd, depend upon it, so let that content you.

Lees. My dear Connolly, I hope I sha'n't want such a proof of your affection - How he distresses me! Con. You will want a second, I suppose, in this affair: I stood second to my own brother in the Fif teen Acres, and though that has made me detest the very thought of duelling ever since; yet if you want a friend, I'll attend you to the field of death with a great deal of satisfaction.

Lees. I thank you, Connolly, but I think it extremely wrong in any man who has a quarrel to ex

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