Chas. Surf. Set chairs, Trip.—Sit down, Mr. Premium.—Glasses, Trip.—[Trip gives chairs and glasses, and exit.] Sit down, Moses.—Come, Mr. Premium, I’ll give you a sentiment; here’s Success to usury!—Moses, fill the gentleman a bumper.

Mos. Success to usury!

[Drinks.

Care. Right, Moses—usury is prudence and industry, and deserves to succeed.

Sir Oliv. Then here’s—All the success it deserves!

[Drinks.

Care. No, no, that won’t do! Mr. Premium, you have demurred at the toast, and must drink it in a pint bumper.

1 Gent. A pint bumper, at least.

Mos. Oh, pray, sir, consider—Mr. Premium’s a gentleman.

Care. And therefore loves good wine.

2 Gent. Give Moses a quart glass—this is mutiny, and a high contempt for the chair.

Care: Here, now for’t! I’ll see justice done, to the last drop of my bottle.

Sir Oliv. Nay, pray, gentlemen—I did not expect this usage.

Chas. Surf. No, hang it, you shan’t; Mr. Premium’s a stranger.

Sir Oliv. Odd! I wish I was well out of their company.

[Aside.

Care. Plague on ’em then! if they won’t drink, we’ll not sit down with them. Come, Harry, the dice are in the next room. —Charles, you’ll join us when you have finished your business with the gentlemen?

Chas. Surf. I will! I will!—[Exeunt Sir Harry Bumper and Gentlemen; Careless following.] Careless.

Care. [Returning.] Well!

Chas. Surf. Perhaps I may want you.

Care. Oh, you know I am always ready: word, note, or bond, ’tis all the same to me.

[Exit.

Mos. Sir, this is Mr. Premium, a gentleman of the strictest honour and secrecy; and always performs what he undertakes. Mr. Premium, this is—

Chas. Surf. Psha! have done. Sir, my friend Moses is a very honest fellow, but a little slow at expression: he’ll be an hour giving us our titles. Mr. Premium, the plain state of the matter is this: I am an extravagant young fellow who wants to borrow money; you I take to be a prudent old fellow, who have got money to lend. I am blockhead enough to give fifty per cent. sooner than not have it! and you, I presume, are rogue enough to take a hundred if you can get it. Now, sir, you see we are acquainted at once, and may proceed to business without further ceremony.