Sir Pet. No, no,—come, come,—you wrong him. No, no, Joseph is no rake, but he is no such saint either, in that respect. —[Aside.] I have a great mind to tell him—we should have such a laugh at Joseph.

Chas. Surf. Oh, hang him! he’s a very anchorite, a young hermit!

Sir Pet. Hark’ee—you must not abuse him: he may chance to hear of it again, I promise you.

Chas. Surf. Why, you won’t tell him?

Sir Pet. No—but—this way.—[Aside.] Egad, I’ll tell him. [Aloud] Hark’ee, have you a mind to have a good laugh at Joseph?

Chas. Surf. I should like it of all things.

Sir Pet. Then, i’faith, we will! I’ll be quit with him for discovering me. He had a girl with him when I called.

[Whispers.

Chas. Surf. What! Joseph? you jest.

Sir Pet. Hush!—a little French milliner—and the best of the jest is—she’s in the room now.

Chas. Surf. The devil she is!

Sir Pet. Hush! I tell you.

[Points to the screen.

Chas. Surf. Behind the screen! ’Slife, let’s unveil her!

Sir Pet. No, no, he’s coming:—you shan’t, indeed!

Chas. Surf. Oh, egad, we’ll have a peep at the little milliner!

Sir Pet. Not for the world!—Joseph will never forgive me.

Chas. Surf. I’ll stand by you—

Sir Pet. Odds, here he is!

[Charles Surface throws down the screen.

Re-enter Joseph Surface.

Chas. Surf. Lady Teazle, by all that’s wonderful!

Sir Pet. Lady Teazle, by all that’s damnable!

Chas. Surf. Sir Peter, this is one of the smartest French milliners I ever saw. Egad, you seem all to have been diverting yourselves here at hide and seek, and I don’t see who is out of the secret. Shall I beg your ladyship to inform me? Not a word!—Brother, will you be pleased to explain this matter? What! is Morality dumb too?—Sir Peter, though I found you in the dark, perhaps you are not so now! All mute! Well—though I can make nothing of the affair, I suppose you perfectly understand one another; so I’ll leave you to yourselves.—[Going.] Brother, I’m sorry to find you have given that worthy man grounds for so much uneasiness.—Sir Peter! there’s nothing in the world so noble as a man of sentiment!

[Exit.