Dor. Come, priest, do your office.

Arch. Make haste, make haste, couple ’em any way.—[Takes Aimwell’s hand.] Come, madam, I’m to give you—

Dor. My mind’s altered; I won’t.

Arch. Eh!

Aim. I’m confounded!

Foi. Upon my shoul, and sho is myshelf.

Arch. What’s the matter now, madam?

Dor. Look’ee, sir, one generous action deserves another.—This gentleman’s honour obliged him to hide nothing from me; my justice engages me to conceal nothing from him. In short, sir, you are the person that you thought you counterfeited; you are the true Lord Viscount Aimwell, and I wish your Lordship joy.—Now, priest, you may be gone; if my Lord is pleased now with the match, let his Lordship marry me in the face of the world.

Aim., Arch. What does she mean?

Dor. Here’s a witness for my truth.

Enter Sir Charles Freeman and Mrs. Sullen.

Sir Chas. My dear Lord Aimwell, I wish you joy.

Aim. Of what?

Sir Chas. Of your honour and estate. Your brother died the day before I left London; and all your friends have writ after you to Brussels;—among the rest I did myself the honour.

Arch. Hark’ee, sir knight, don’t you banter now?

Sir Chas. ’Tis truth, upon my honour.

Aim. Thanks to the pregnant stars that formed this accident.

Arch. Thanks to the womb of time that brought it forth!—away with it!

Aim. Thanks to my guardian angel that led me to the prize!

[Taking Dorinda’s hand.

Arch. And double thanks to the noble Sir Charles Freeman.—My Lord, I wish you joy.—My Lady, I wish you joy.—Egad, Sir Freeman, you’re the honestest fellow living!—’Sdeath, I’m grown strange airy upon this matter!—My Lord, how d’ye?—A word, my Lord; don’t you remember something of a previous agreement, that entitles me to the moiety of this lady’s fortune, which I think will amount to five thousand pounds?

Aim. Not a penny, Archer; you would ha’ cut my throat just now, because I would not deceive this lady.

Arch. Ay, and I’ll cut your throat again, if you should deceive her now.

Aim. That’s what I expected; and to end the dispute, the lady’s fortune is ten thousand pounds, we’ll divide stakes: take the ten thousand pounds or the lady.