_Sir Per_. Vary true, my lord, vary true--and it is monstrous that a mon of your lordship's condition is not entitled to run one of these mechanics through the body, when he is impertinent about his money; but our laws shamefully, on these occasions, make no distinction of persons amongst us.
_Lord Lum_. A vile policy indeed, Sir Pertinax.--But, sir, the scoundrel has seized upon the house too, that I furnished for the girl I took from the opera.
_Sir Per_. I never heard of sic an a scoundrel.
_Lord Lum_. Ay, but what concerns me most,--I am afraid, my dear Mac, that the villain will send down to Newmarket, and seize my string of horses.
_Sir Per_. Your string of horses? zounds! we must prevent that at all events:--that would be sic an a disgrace. I will dispatch an express to town directly to put a stop till the rascal's proceedings.
_LordLum._ Pr'ythee do, my dear Sir Pertinax.
_Lord Lum._ Thou art an honest fellow, Sir Pertinax, upon honour.
_Sir Per._ O! my lord, it is my duty to oblige your lordship to the utmost stretch of my abeelity.
_Tom._ Colonel Toper presents his compliments to you, sir, and having no family down with him in the country, he and Captain Hardbottle, if not inconvenient, will do themselves the honour of taking a family dinner with you.
_Sir Per._ They are two of our militia officers--does your lordship know them?
_Sir Per._ I am afraid, my lord, they will interrupt our business.
_Lord Lum._ Not at all: I should be glad to be acquainted with Toper; they say he's a damned jolly fellow.
_Sir Per._ O! devilish jolly--devilish jolly: he and the captain are the two hardest drinkers in the county.
_Lord Lum._ So I have heard; let us have them by all means, Mac: they will enliven the scene. How far are they from you?
_Sir Per._ Just across the meadows--not half a mile, my lord: a step, a step.
_LordLum._ O! let us have the jolly dogs, by all means.
_Sir Per._ My compliments--I shall be proud of their company. [_Exit_ Tom.] Guif ye please, my lord, we will gang and chat a bit with the women: I have not seen Lady Rodolpha since she returned fra the Bath. I long to have a little news from her about the company there.
_Lord Lum._ O! she'll give you an account of them, I warrant you. [_A very loud laugh without_.
