Croaker. No, Sir, it was Mr. Honeywood conducted me hither. Leontine. Is it possible? Croaker. Possible! why, he's in the house now, Sir: more anxious about me than my own son, Sir. Leontine. Then, Sir, he's a villain. Croaker. How, sirrah! a villain, because he takes most care of your father? I'll not bear it. I tell you I'll not bear it. Honeywood is a friend to the family, and I'll have him treated as such. Leontine. I shall study to repay his friendship as it deserves. Croaker. Ah, rogue, if you knew how earnestly he entered into my griefs, and pointed out the means to detect them, you would love him as I do. (A cry without, stop him.) Fire and fury! they have seized the incendiary: they have the villian, the incendiary in view. Stop him! stop an incendiary! a murderer; stop him! [Exit. Olivia. Oh, my terrors! What can this tumult mean? Leontine. Some new mark, I suppose, of Mr. Honeywood's sincerity. But we shall have satisfaction: he shall give me instant satisfaction. Olivia. It must not be, my Leontine, if you value my esteem or my happiness. Whatever be our fate, let us not add guilt to our misfortunes-Consider that our innocence will shortly be all that we have left us. You must forgive him. Leontine. Forgive him! Has he not in every instance betrayed us? Forced to borrow money from him, which appears a mere trick to delay us: promised to keep my father engaged till we were out of danger, and here brought him to the very scene of our escape ? Olivia. Don't be precipitate. We may yet be mistaken. Enter POSTBOY, dragging in JARVIS. HONEYWOOD entering soon after. Aye, master, we Postboy. Here is have him fast enough. the incendiary dog. I'm entitled to the reward; I'll take my oath I saw him ask for the money at the þar, and then run for it. Honeywood. Come, bring him along. Let us see him. him learn to blush for his crimes. (Discovering his mistake.) Death! what's here! Jarvis, Leontine, Olivia! What can all this mean? Jarvis. Why, I'll tell you what it means: that I was an old fool, and that you are my master-that's all. Confusion! Honeywood. Leontine. Yes, Sir, I find you have kept your word with me. After such baseness, I wonder how you can venture to see the man you have injured? Honeywood. My dear Leontine, by my life, my honor Leontine. Peace, peace, for shame; and do not continue to aggravate baseness by hypocrisy. I know you, Sir, I know you. Honeywood. Why, won't you hear me! By all that's just, I know not Leontine. Hear you, Sir! to what purpose? I now see through all your low arts; your ever complying with every opinion; your never refusing any request; your friendship's as common as a prostitute's favors, and as fallacious; all these, Sir, have long been contemptible to the world, and are now perfectly so to me. Honeywood. Ha! contemptible to the world! That reaches (Aside.) me. Leontine. All the seeming sincerity of your professions, I now find were only allurements to betray; and all your seeming regret for their consequences only calculated to cover the cowardice of your heart. Draw, villain ! Enter CROAKER, out of breath. Croaker. Where is the villain? Where is the incendiary ? (Seizing the Postboy.) Hold him fast, the dog; he has the gallows in his face. Come, you dog, confess; confess all, and hang yourself. Postboy. Zounds! master, what do you throttle me for! Croaker, (beating him.) Dog, do you resist ; do you resist? Postboy. Zounds master, I'm not he; there's the man that we thought was the rogue, and turns out to be one of the company. How! Croaker, Honeywood. Mr. Croaker, we have all been under a strange mistake here; I find there is nobody guilty; it was all an error; entirely an error of our own. Croaker. And I say, Sir, that you're in an error; for there's guilt and double guilt, a plot, a damned jesuitical pestilential plot, and I must have proof of it. Do but hear me. Honeywood. Croaker. What, you intend to bring 'em off, I suppose; I'll hear nothing. Honeywood. Madam, you seem at least calm enough to hear rea son. Olivia. Excuse me. Honeywood. Good Jarvis, let me then explain it to you. Jarvis. What signifies explanations when the thing is done? Honeywood. Will nobody hear me? Was there ever such a set, so blinded by passion and prejudice! (To the postboy.) My good friend, I believe you'll be surprised, when I assure you→→→→ Postboy. Sure me nothing-I'm sure of nothing but a good beating, Croaker. Come then you, madam, if you ever hope for any favor or forgiveness, tell me sincerely all you know of this affair. |