SERVANT.

Yes, the faid fhe'd keep it fafe enough; fhe afk'd me how I came by it? and she said she had a great mind to make me give an account of myself.

[Exit Servant.

MARLOW.

Ha ha ha! They're fafe however. What an unaccountable set of beings have we got amongst ! This little bar-maid though runs in my head most ftrangely, and drives out the abfurdities of all the reft of the family. She's mine, she must be mine, or I'm greatly mistaken.

Enter HASTINGS.

HASTINGS.

Blefs me! I quite forgot to tell her that I intended to prepare at the bottom of the garden. Marlow here, and in fpirits too!

MARLOW.

Give me joy, George! Crown me, fhadow me with laurels! Well, George, after all, we modest fellows don't want for fuccefs among the women.

HASTINGS.

Some women you mean. But what fuccefs has your honour's modefty been crowned with now, that grows fo infolent

it

upon us?

MARLOW.

Didn't you fee the tempting, brifk, lovely, little thing, that runs about the houfe with a bunch of keys to its girdle?

HASTINGS.

Well, and what then?

MARLOW.

She's mine, you rogue you. Such fire, fuch motion, fuch eyes, fuch lips-but, egad! fhe would not let me kiss them though.

HASTINGS.

But are you fo fure, fo very fure of her?

MARLOW.

Why, man, the talk'd of fhewing me her work above ftairs, and I am to approve

HASTINGS.

the pattern.

But how can you, Charles, go about to rob a

woman of her honour?

MARLOW.

MARLOW.

Pfhaw! pfhaw! We all know the honour of the bar-maid of an inn. I don't intend to rob her, take my word for it, there's nothing in this houfe, I fhan't honeftly pay for.

HASTINGS.

I believe the girl has virtue.

MARLOW.

And if he has, I fhould be the laft man in the world that would attempt to corrupt it.

HASTINGS.

You have taken care, I hope, of the casket I fent you to lock up ? It's in fafety?

MARLOW.

Yes, yes. It's fafe enough. I have taken care of it. But how could you think the feat of a postcoach at an inn-door a place of safety? Ah! numbfkull! I have taken better precautions for you than you did for yourself-I have

What!

HASTINGS.

MARLOW.

I have fent it to the landlady to keep for you.

HASTINGS.

HASTINGS.

To the landlady!

MARLOW.

The landlady!

HASTINGS.

You did?

MARLOW.

I did. She's to be anfwerable for its forth-com

ing, you know.

HASTINGS.

Yes, fhe'll bring it forth with a witness,

MARLOW.

Was'nt I right? I believe you'll allow that I acted prudently upon this occafion?

HASTINGS.

(Afide.) He muft not fee my uneafinefs.

MARLOW.

You feem a little difconcerted though, methinks.

Sure nothing has happened?

HASTINGS.

HASTINGS.

No, nothing. Never was in better fpirits in all my life. And fo you left it with the landlady, who, no doubt, very readily undertook the charge?

MARLOW.

Rather too readily. For the not only kept the cafket; but, through her great precaution, was going to keep the meffenger too. Ha! ha! ha!

HASTINGS.

He he he! They're fafe, however.

MARLOW.

As a guinea in a mifer's purse.

HASTINGS.

(Afide) So now all hopes of fortune are at an end, and we must set off without it. (To him.) Well, Charles, I'll leave you to your meditations on the pretty bar-maid, and, he he! he! may you be as fuccessful for yourself as you have been for me.

[Exit.

MARLOW.

Thank ye, George! I ask no more. Ha ha!

ha!

Enter