[Exit

Lau. How this booby stares after him!

[Sits down and sings.

O’Con. Lauretta!

Lau. Not so free, fellow!

[Sings.

O’Con. Lauretta! look on me.

Lau. Not so free, fellow!

O’Con. No recollection!

Lau. Honest Humphrey, be quiet.

O’Con. Have you forgot your faithful soldier?

Lau. Ah! Oh preserve me!

O’Con. ’Tis, my soul! your truest slave, passing on your father in this disguise.

Lau. Well now, I declare this is charming—you are so disguised, my dear lieutenant, and you look so delightfully ugly. I am sure no one will find you out, ha! ha! ha!—You know I am under your protection; papa charged you to keep close to me.

O’Con. True, my angel, and thus let me fulfil——

Lau. O pray now, dear Humphrey——

O’Con. Nay, ’tis but what old Mittimus commanded.

[Offers to kiss her

Re-enter Justice Credulous.

Just. Laury, my—hey! what the devil’s here?

Lau. Well now, one kiss, and be quiet.

Just. Your very humble servant, honest Humphrey! Don’t let me—pray don’t let me interrupt you!

Lau. Lud, papa! Now that’s so good-natured—indeed there’s no harm. You did not mean any rudeness, did you, Humphrey?

O’Con. No, indeed, miss; his worship knows it is not in me.

Just. I know that you are a lying, canting, hypocritical scoundrel; and if you don’t take yourself out of my sight——

Lau. Indeed, papa, now I’ll tell you how it was. I was sometime taken with a sudden giddiness, and Humphrey seeing me beginning to totter, ran to my assistance, quite frightened, poor fellow, and took me in his arms.