Mrs. ANDREWS. For what I pray?

Lady BELMOUR. You are not ignorant.

Mrs. ANDREWS. I am, as I shall answer it to heaven.

Lady BELMOUR. Not only for my husband's fond affection, But his fortune; which, (tis well known to all) He lavishes on you--so that your visits Can but reflect dishonour; wherefore, cease them.

Mrs. ANDREWS. [Going off.] This is too much; ungrateful, faithless woman! [She goes off.]

Lady BELMOUR. This treatment may hereafter serve her much.

Even the meanest with the highest vie: Their manners as their fashions vainly aping, As might provoke the sourest spleen to laughter. [Exit.]

SCENE V.

An inn on Cornhill near Mr. ANDREWS's house

MARIA to the HOSTESS.

MARIA. Madam, a ticket from this inn informs me, That some one in the house has wish'd to see me.

HOSTESS. A person in a common peasant's habit, Came here some moments since and sent for you, Upon some pressing business, as he told me.

MARIA. Is he here now?

HOSTESS. He is; I'll shew the room. [They go off.]

SCENE VI.

Changes to a back room.

Lord BELMOUR in the habit of a countryman, and MARIA.

Lord BELMOUR. Am I not well disguis'd?

MARIA. Lord Belmour!--Wondrous!

You might have pa.s.s'd me twenty times unknown.

But pray, my lord, the purpose of this meeting?

Lord BELMOUR. First say, how fares it with your lovely mistress?

MARIA. Her present troubles are beyond expression.

Oh! her distress is great.

Lord BELMOUR. I'm on the rack.

My fortune, life, my all's at her command.

Unfold yourself, if you regard my peace.

MARIA. Know then, her very ill success at play, (Which has of late ev'n all conception pa.s.s'd) Hath led her to use means, and such a.s.sistance, That she some honourable claims might answer, As otherwise she would have shudder'd at.

And many a tale has reach'd her husband's ear.

Lord BELMOUR. As I could wish. [Aside.] Unmerited ill fortune!

MARIA. Oh! but this is not all.

Lord BELMOUR. 'Tis, 'tis too much.

Yet would I know the whole, that I may fly On expedition's wing to her relief.-- Speak on.--

MARIA. I cannot.

Lord BELMOUR. Torture me no further.

MARIA. Alas! my master cruelly hath charg'd her, (How shall I name it!) with indecent conduct; But chiefly, sir, with you.

Lord BELMOUR. Most fortunate!

This will outrun whole years of fond entreaty--[Aside]

Ungen'rous, false accuser! thus to treat The loveliest of her s.e.x; but first, Maria, We must relieve her from her present exigencies; With which somewhat acquainted, I, her friend, (None more sincere) am with the means prepar'd; And 'twas for that alone I schem'd this meeting.

But for the purpose, you must so contrive it, As to convey me to her chamber secretly, This very night.

MARIA. Heav'n! how you frighten me!

I would not for the world do such an act.

Lord BELMOUR. Your fears are without cause; I mean it only, Lest any prying babbler might observe us, At such late hour, as we must be together.

And I can have none other opportunity, Of giving her the quick relief she needs.

Wherefore, her friend must serve her at this juncture.

I know your faithful heart.--

MARIA. O! but my lord.--

Lord BELMOUR. Behold these two, Maria; [Shews her two purses]

each of these Contains an hundred pieces; one of them, You must vouchsafe at present to accept; The other, trust me, shall be also yours, Soon as I safely gain the wish'd-for station. [Puts one of the purses into her hand.]

Your master left the city just at sunset?

MARIA. My lord! my lord!

Lord BELMOUR. You must, you shall accept it.

MARIA. Well, my good lord, to save my injur'd mistress--[She puts up the purse in her pocket.]

The backway thro' the warehouse is the safest, When the moon's down; for 'twill be late to-night, When she returns from lady Meldmay's supper.

Lord BELMOUR. As sure as I exist--till then farewell! [He goes off.]

MARIA. To what have I agreed?--Yet why repent?

If not temptation proof, it matters not, When first she fails, or by whose means it happens; If she refills, I'll stand out to the last, And swear a thousand oaths, that I am innocent.

At all events, there are two hundred pieces, Which will be most convenient, should my husband Be to a trial brought--So chance direct! [She goes off.]