Jos. Surf. So he says. Well, I am strangely overjoyed at his coming.—[Aside.] Never, to be sure, was anything so damned unlucky!

Row. You will be delighted to see how well he looks.

Jos. Surf. Oh! I’m overjoyed to hear it.—[Aside.] Just at this time!

Row. I’ll tell him how impatiently you expect him.

Jos. Surf. Do, do; pray give my best duty and affection. Indeed, I cannot express the sensations I feel at the thought of seeing him.—[Exit Rowley.] Certainly his coming just at this time is the cruellest piece of ill fortune.

[Exit.

Scene II.—A Room in Sir Peter Teazle’s House.

Enter Mrs. Candour and Maid.

Maid, Indeed, ma’am, my lady will see nobody at present.

Mrs. Can. Did you tell her it was her friend Mrs. Candour?

Maid. Yes, ma’am; but she begs you will excuse her.

Mrs. Can. Do go again; I shall be glad to see her, if it be only for a moment, for I am sure she must be in great distress,—[Exit Maid.] Dear heart, how provoking! I’m not mistress of half the circumstances! We shall have the whole affair in the newspapers, with the names of the parties at length, before I have dropped the story at a dozen houses.

Enter Sir Benjamin Backbite.

Oh, dear Sir Benjamin! you have heard, I suppose—

Sir Ben. Of Lady Teazle and Mr. Surface—

Mrs. Can. and Sir Peter’s discovery—

Sir Ben. Oh, the strangest piece of business, to be sure!

Mrs. Can. Well, I never was so surprised in my life. I am so sorry for all parties, indeed,

Sir Ben. Now, I don’t pity Sir Peter at all: he was so extravagantly partial to Mr. Surface.

Mrs. Can. Mr. Surface! Why, ’twas with Charles Lady Teazle was detected.

Sir Ben. No, no, I tell you: Mr. Surface is the gallant.

Mrs. Can. No such thing! Charles is the man. ’Twas Mr. Surface brought Sir Peter on purpose to discover them.

Sir Ben. I tell you I had it from one—

Mrs. Can. And I have it from one—

Sir Ben. Who had it from one, who had it—