ens.

Enter JULIA, from the house.

By Jove! 'tis my charming incognita of the masquerade-the very woman I have sought all over town-the mystery thick[Bows to Julia. Jul. [Courtesying, and coming forward.] My agreeable partner! How comes he here? Is it possible he can be my intended husband. [Aside.

Dr. S. [Coming down.] I beg your pardon, Mr. Thompson. Allow me to introduce my daughter.-Julia, this is the son of one of my best and oldest friends; I trust you will pay him every attention on that account; when you know him better, I dare say you will continue to do so for his own merits. But has not my old chum written to me? Haven't you a line in your pocket for me?

Wm. T. 1. [Aside.] I wish I had-I would hang myself in it to get rid of my embarrassment.-[Aloud.] No, sir.

Dr. S. I see that hamper and basket are directed to me; perhaps there's a letter in one of them. What do they contain, my young friend? I am sure I ought to be obliged at such attention; they must have given you a good deal of trouble.

Wm. T. 1. Oh, sir, none in the least, I assure you. You had better have them opened. [Aside.] As they are directed to him, there can be no harm in that.

Dr. S. Why, is it any thing that will spoil?

Wm. T. 1. [Aside.] What shall I say? One looks like a fish-basket. [Aloud.] I ordered them, sir, to put up some fish-I don't know whether they have done so.

[Thomas cuts open the basket. Dr. S. [Looking into the basket.] A very fine cod-fish, too! My dear Mr. Thompson, you could not have brought me any thing I wanted more, for I could get none in the town. Wm. T. 1. [Aside.] I made a good guess; the other must be wine.

Dr. S. [Assisting Thomas to search the basket.] Oh! here is a letter! I thought my old friend would give me an item-let's see what he says.

[Exit Thomas with basket into the house.

Wm. T. 1. [Aside.] I am in a most ridiculous situation! Dr. S. [Reads.] "My Dear Friend-My son, the bearer of this letter, will present you a cod-fish. I hope you and

your daughter will approve the specimen." [Looking at WILLIAM THOMPSON.] Very much, indeed!

Wm. T. 1. [Aside.] What! does he mean to call me a fish?
Dr. S. [Reads.] "I'll warrant him fresh caught."
Wm. T. 1. Caught, indeed! caught napping!

Dr. S. [Reads.] "He brings with him a hamper of champagne, as a present to you. I shall expect you to send me word, if my son, the fish, and the hamper, come safe to hand, and when the business for which he comes is concluded. Yours to command, "WILLIAM THOMPSON." "P. S.-Don't let the ceremony be delayed—I have my reasons."

Wm. T. 1. [Aside.] The ceremony! what ceremony ? What will they do with me, I wonder?

Dr. S. It shan't be my fault if it is: but, my dear Mr. Thompson, though I am much obliged to you for your handsome present, I am sorry you have been at the expense.

Wm. T. 1. Oh, don't mention that, my dear sir; a trifle -no expense at all to me.

Jul. [Aside.] Then it is my intended husband! Odd enough, that my father's choice should happen to be the man of my own! but I think he appears very much embarrassed.

Dr. S. But let us enter the house: come, son-in-law, show your gallantry-conduct your mistress in.

Wm. T. 1. [Aside.] Son-in-law ! then marriage is thewell, if so, and this is to be the lady, I'll not explain the mistake just yet.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.-Outside of the Inn at Richmond.

Enter WAITER from the house, and BAILIFF.

Bai. I say, have you got a gentleman of the name of William Thompson in your house?

Wai. Not that I know of. What sort of a man is he?

Bai. A very shy un, I know-very difficult to come at; but I have come all the way from London to speak a word with him, and I won't stir till I catch him.

Wai. Oh, I understand: a gentleman with a long bill, long legs, and a short purse.

Bai. Just so, but he would not trust to his legs, but gave me the slip by coming down in one of your stages, when I

thought I had kennelled him. I was soon after him, and shall keep a sharp look-out for any gentleman who walks with his hat flapped over his eyes, and looks behind him every now and then; for the fact is, I know nothing of his person but his heels. [Horn sounds without.

Wai. Here is a coach coming in now. I must go and attend. [The BAILIFF retires up. Enter WILLIAM THOMPSON THE SECOND, with three other passengers, who go into the house.

Wm. T. 2. Waiter, can you tell me any thing of a portmanteau, a hamper, and a basket, that came down in one of the Richmond stages to-day?

Wai. No, sir; I have seen nothing of them.

Wm. T. 2. Not seen them!

Wai No, sir.

Wm. T. 2. There, I said I should lose them! A pretty picking for somebody!

Wai. Pray, sir, were they intrusted to the coachman's care ?

Wm. T. 2. Lord bless you, no! I was coming with them myself, but a rogue of a fellow took my place, and the coach whisked off. If he had only taken my place, I should not have minded, though that was taking a freedom, because I had paid for it; but he took my name, and will finish, I suppose, as is usual, by taking my property. Are the coaches still here ?

Wai. No, sir; they have gone back to London.

[Exit into the Inn. Wm. T. 2. Very pretty behavior of the coachmen, upon my word! He ought to have looked whom he took in. I think my face is not easily forgotten when once seen. If I don't recover my property, I'll prosecute him, or my name is not William Thompson.

Bai. Is your name William Thompson, sir?

Wm. T. 2. Yes, sir, my name is William Thompson, if you have no objection. Perhaps you, too, have taken a fancy to it?

Bai. No, sir; but I have a few words to say to you, if you bear that name.

Wm. T. 2. About my lost property, I hope.

Bai. No, sir about the lost property of Mr. Snip, at whose suit I arrest you.

[Touching his shoulder, and showing the writ.

Wm. T. 2. Arrest me! That's a good joke!

Bai. I am glad you think so, master: few persons find it one.

Wm. T. 2. Do you really mean to say you are serious, and that you arrest me according to law? For what?

Bai. For what! For debt, to be sure.

Wm. T. 2. [Laughing.] I in debt! A likely thing, truly ! What next? You mistake me, friend, for another person.

Bai. No, no, that won't do you are Mr. William Thompson, by your own account, and, by Mr. Snip's, you owe him forty pounds.

Wm. T. 2. But I tell you I do not owe it him-it is another person.

Bai. Yes, I know that, but you was answerable; so you must come along with me to London, and I'll see you safely lodged in a genteel lock-up house-that is, if you behave civilly.

Wm. T. 2. Safely lodged in a lock-up house! There will be a pretty disgrace to a respectable tradesman! If I was a gentleman, indeed, it would not be so much out of the rules; but it will ruin my character; for people will say I did it to be in the fashion;-and a pretty rage my father will be in when he hears of it! Besides, Dr. Soothem will be expecting me. Oh, my good friend, you cannot be so barbarous, I am

sure.

Bai. I only do my duty, sir. If you can't pay the money, you must come with me.

Wm. T. 2. Well, I'll fit you, my fine fellow, for your obstinacy! I'll pay the money, and prosecute you for an illegal arrest. I shall be able to recover damages, because I warnI was not myself. Do you persist ?

ed you

Bai. Yes, I persist.

Wm. T. 2. Very well; then don't blame me when you find yourself in a quandary, safely lodged, not in a genteel lock-up house, but in jail, that's all! Come into the house, for I'll have witnesses. [Exeunt, squabbling. into the inn.

END OF ACT I.

ACT II.

SCENE I. Outside of DOUTOR SOOTHEM's House, as before. The hallo of sportsmen and the cry of hounds heard.

Wm. T. 2. [Calling without.) Help! help!-I shall be torn to pieces!

Wm. T. 1. [Rushes out the house, and re-entering with WM. T. 2.], Recover yourself, sir; the dogs are gone. What could possibly make them attack you in that manner?

Wm. T. 2. Thank you, sir; I am very much obliged to you, I am sure. The savage beasts!-I can't tell, unless it was a bit of capital venison pasty that I had put in my pocket, to stay my stomach, as it is a pretty long drive from town; and I have been so worried since, that I quite forgot it; but they smelt it out, I suppose.

Wm. T. 1. To be sure they did.

Wm. T. 2. I am not obliged to my father for sending me into such an outlandish place, where the dogs have no more manners than bears. Just be so kind as to look

[Turning round, he discovers that one pocket and part of the skirts of his coat are torn off.

Wm. T. 1. They have indeed, sir, and run away with the luncheon, cloth and all!

Wm. T. 2. [Looking at his torn coat.] Here's a pretty job! What am I to do now? I have got no other to put on, for I have lost my portmanteau; and 'twill be rather odd to go a courting with my coat curtailed.

Wm. T. 1. [Aside.] Lost his portmanteau !-Going courting, too! By Jupiter, this must be my namesake! [Aloud.] Lost your portmanteau?

Wm. T. 2. Yes, and a hamper and basket. A rascally fellow has stolen them, I am afraid.

Wm. T. 1. Rascally fellow! Do you know of whom you speak?

Wm. T. 2. No; I wish I did. Do you?

Wm. T. 1. [Aside.] I shall betray myself! [Aloud.] I, sir!—What should make you suppose that?

Wm. T. 2. You seemed warm about it.

Wm. T. 1. Merely from the interest I take in your loss. Wm. T. 2. Now that's very kind of you; but don't disturb yourself on my account; I dare say I shall learn some news of them if you can direct me to Dr. Soothem's.