bow-window there would be an improvement: could it be done easily, Tabouret ? MACFINCH. If Mr. Evelyn wuishes to pool about his house, there's no mon like my friend Mr. MacStucco. Evelyn ? SMOOTH. I was speaking of myself. Mr. Mac Stucco ?-humph! TABOURET. Yourself? Have you bought the house, sir? SMOOTH. Bought it?-hum!-ha!-it depends-So you 've not been paid yet?-um! Nor you-nor you- nor you? Hum? ah! TABOURET. No, sir!-what then? No fear of Mr. EVELYN ! Ha! ha! OMNES (anxiously). Ha ha!-what then? MACFINCH. Ah, sir, what then? I'm a puir mon with a family; this way, Captain! You've a leetle account in the buiks; an' we'll ee'n wipe it out altogether, an you '11 say what you mean by that Hoom ha! SMOOTH. Macfinch, my dear fellow, don't oblige me to cane you; I would not have Mr. Evelyn distressed for the world. Poor fellow! he holds very bad cards. So you 've not been paid yet? Don't send in your bills on any account-Mind! Yes; I don't dislike the house with some alteration. Good day to you-Hum! ha! [Exit, looking about him, examining the chairs, tables, &c. TABOURET. Plain as a pikestaff!-staked his very house on an odd trick! SCENE II. The foregoing-Enter SHARP from the inner room, agitated and in a hurry. SHARP. O Lord! O Lord !-who'd have thought it? Cards are the devil's book! John!-Thomas !-Harris !(ringing the bell.) Enter Two Servants. Tom, take this letter to Sir John Vesey's. If not at home, find him-he will give you a cheque. Go to his banker's and get it cashed instantly. Quick-quick off with you! TABOURET (seizing Servant). What's the matter?-what's the matter? How's SHARP (to the other Servant). Yes, Harris, your poor master! O dear! O dear! You will take this note to the Belgian minister, Portland-place. Passport for Ostend! Have the travelling carriage ready at a moment's notice! MACFINCH (stopping Servant). Passport! Harkye, my mon; is he gaun to pit the saut seas between us and the siller? SERVANT. Don't stop me-something wrong in the chest— change of air-late hours-and Captain Smooth! SHARP (walking about). [Exit. And if the bank should break!-if the bank is broke, and he can't draw out!-bound to Smooth! TABOURET. Bank!-what bank? I must be off. Go-go-you can't see Mr. Evelyn I've a muckle bairns and a sma' bill! FRANTZ. O Sare, de great gentlemen always tink first of de tailor! SHARP. Call again-call again at Christmas. The bank, the cards, the cards, the bank! O dear! O dear! TABOURET. The bank! MACFINCH. The passport! FRANTZ. [Exit. And all dat vill be seen of de great Evelyn coat is de back of it. Donner und hagel!-I vil arrest him-I vil put de salt on de tail of it! TABOURET (aside). I'll slip down to the city and see how the bank goes! MACFINCH (aside). I'll een gang to my coosin the la'yer. Nothing but peetience for us, Mr. Tabouret. TABOURET. Ay, ay,-stick by each other-share and share alike -that's my way, Sir. My master is not very well, my lord; but I'll let him know. GLOSSMORE. [Exit. I'm very curious to learn the result of his gambling tête-à-tête. BLOUNT. Oh, he's so howwidly wich, he can afford even a tête-à-tête with Deadly Smooth! |