SCENE II. Sir Cautious Fulbank's House.
Did my Julia know how I Languish in this cruel Separation, she would afford me her Pity, and write oftner. If only the Expectation of two thou∣sand a Year kept me from you, ah! Julia how easily would I abandon that Trifle for your more valued Sight, but that I know a Fortune will render me more agreable to the charming Julia, I should quit all my Inte∣rest here, to throw my self at her Feet, to make her sensible how am I intirely her Adorer,
Charles Gayman.
That Madam is a Noble Gratitude. For if his Fortune be declining, 'tis sacrificed to his Passion for your Ladyship.
I must confess, such Jewels, Rings, and Presents as he made me must needs decay his Fortune.
Ay Madam, his very Coach at last was turned into a Jewel for your Ladyship.
As Drinking and Gaming to divert the Thought of your marrying my old Master.
Of that I would be better satisfied—and you too must assist me as e're you hope I should be kind to you in gaining you Diana
My Master sent me yesterday to Mr. Crap his Scrivener, to send to one Mr. Wastall, to tell him his first Mortgage was out, which is two hundred pounds a Year—and who has since in∣gaged five or six hundred more to my Master; but if this first be not redeem'd he'll take the Forfeit on't, as he says a Wise Man ought.
That is to say, a Knave according to his Notion of a Wise Man.
Mr Crap being busie with a Borrowing Lord, sent me to Mr. Wastall; whose Lodging is in a nasty Place, called Alsatia, at a Black-Smiths.
Yes Madam; and at the Door encounter'd the beastly thing he calls a Landlady; who lookt as if she'ad been of her own Husband's making, compos'd of moulded Smith's Dust. I ask'd for Mr. Wastall, and she began to open—and did so rail at him, that what with her Billingsgate, and her Husband's Hammers, I was both Deaf and Dumb—at last the Hammers ceas'd, and she grew weary, and call'd down Mr. Wastall; but he not answering—I was sent up a Ladder rather than a pair of Stairs; at last I scal'd the top, and enter'd the incharted Castle; there did I find him, spight of the Noise below, drowning his Cares in Sleep.
Then beg'd I wou'd be secr•…t: for he vow'd, his whole Repose and Life, depended on my Silence. Nor had I told it now,
But that your Ladyship, may find some speedy means to draw him from this desperate Condition.
'Tis a pretty convenient Tub Madam. He may lie along in't, there's just room for an old Joyn'd Stool besides the Bed, which one cannot call a Cabin, about the largeness of a Pantry Bin, or a Usurer's Trunk, there had been Dor•…ex Curtains to't in the Days of Yore; but they were now annihilated, and nothing left to save his Eyes from the Light, but my Land-ladies Blew Apron, ty'd by the strings before the Window, in which stood a broken six∣penny Looking-Glass, that show'd as many Faces, as the Scene in Henry the Eighth, which could but just stand upright, and then the Comb-Case fill'd it.
What a lewd Description hast thou made of his Cham∣ber!
Then for his Equipage, 'tis banisht to one small Monsieur, who (sawcy with his Master's Poverty) is rather a Companion than a Foot-man.
Enough—you shall, in some Disguise convey this Money to him, as from an unknown hand: I wou'd not have him think it comes from me, for all the World;
If I were your Ladyship, I wou'd make use of Sir Cautious his Cash: Pay him in his own Coyn.
Your Ladyship wou'd make no Scruple of it, if you knew how this poor Gentleman has been us'd by my unmerciful Master.
I have a Key already to his Counting-House; it being lost, he had another made, and this I found and kept.
Madam, this is an excellent time for't, my Master being gone to give my Sister Leticia at Church.
'Tis so, I'll go and commit the Theft, whilst you pre∣pare to carry it, and then we'll to Dinner with your Sister the Bride.
