Sir Tun. This is he, my lord. How do you like him? is not he a pretty fellow to get a fortune?

Fash. I find by his dress he thought your daughter might be taken with a beau.

Miss Hoyd. Oh, gemini! is this a beau? let me see him again. [Surveys him.] Ha! I find a beau is no such ugly thing, neither.

Fash. [Aside.] Egad, she’ll be in love with him presently—I’ll e’en have him sent away to jail.—[To Lord Foppington.] Sir, though your undertaking shows you a person of no extraordinary modesty, I suppose you ha’n’t confidence enough to expect much favour from me?

Lord Fop. Strike me dumb, Tam, thou art a very impudent fellow.

Nurse. Look, if the varlet has not the effrontery to call his lordship plain Thomas!

Lord Fop. My Lord Foppington, shall I beg one word with your lordship?

Nurse. Ho, ho! it’s my lord with him now! See how afflictions will humble folks. Miss Hoyd. Pray, my lord—[To Fashion]—don’t let him whisper too close, lest he bite your ear off.

Lord Fop. I am not altogether so hungry as your ladyship is pleased to imagine.—[Aside to Tom Fashion.] Look you, Tam, I am sensible I have not been so kind to you as I ought, but I hope you’ll forgive what’s past, and accept of the five thousand pounds I offer—thou mayst live in extreme splendour with it, stap my vitals!

Fash. It’s a much easier matter to prevent a disease than to cure it. A quarter of that sum would have secured your mistress, twice as much cannot redeem her.

[Aside to Lord Foppington.

Sir Tun. Well, what says he?

Fash. Only the rascal offered me a bribe to let him go.

Sir Tun. Ay, he shall go, with a plague to him!—lead on, constable.

Enter Servant.

Ser. Sir, here is Muster Loveless, and Muster Colonel Townly, and some ladies to wait on you.

[To Tom Fashion.

Lory. [Aside to Tom Fashion.] So, sir, what will you do now?

Fash. [Aside to Lory.] Be quiet; they are in the plot.—[Aloud.] Only a few friends, Sir Tunbelly, whom I wish to introduce to you.

Lord Fop. Thou art the most impudent fellow, Tam, that ever nature yet brought into the world.—Sir Tunbelly, strike me speechless, but these are my friends and acquaintance, and my guests, and they will soon inform thee whether I am the true Lord Foppington or not.

Enter Loveless, Colonel Townly, Amanda, and Berinthia.—Lord Foppington accosts them as they pass, but none answer him.

Fash. So, gentlemen, this is friendly; I rejoice to see you.

Col. Town. My lord, we are fortunate to be the witnesses of your lordship’s happiness.