_Sir C._ Come, Clifford, the contents: his lordship braves the trial.
_Lord G._ What is this mighty scheme! and what is that paper to discover?
_Cliff._ [_Breaking open the Letter._] Your lordship shall be informed word for word. [_Upon first sight of the Contents he shows the utmost emotion._] Amazement! do I dream! can it be? who wrote this letter?
_Sir C._ Oh! speak out, monsieur, we are all friends.
_Chignon._ De true Mademoiselle Alton, whom you charge me to give your letter--she open it--she turn pale--den red--den confuse--den kiss your name--den write, and bid me fly.
_Lord G._ Confusion on confusion, what does all this mean? explain.
_Cliff._ You must pardon me, I am disconcerted--confounded--thunderstruck --This letter is indeed of a different nature, from that I expected--I am more interested in Miss Alton"s fate than your lordship--my perplexity is not to be endured; friend, come with me instantly.
[_Exeunt CLIFFORD and CHIGNON._
_Lord G._ Mystery and torture! what am I to collect from this? He interested in the fate of Miss Alton? he her former acquaintance?
_Sir C._ Why not--and her dupe also?
_Enter a SERVANT._
_Serv._ Is Mr. Clifford gone, sir?
_Lord G._ [_Impatiently._] Who wants him?
_Serv._ A chairman with a letter, he will not deliver to a servant.
_Sir C._ Call the fellow in. [_Exit SERVANT._] Who knows but he may help us in our difficulties?
_CHAIRMAN brought in, with a Letter in his Hand._
_Lord G._ [_Still impatiently._] Whom did you bring that letter from?
_Chairman._ Please your honour, I don"t know; pa.s.sing through the square, a sash flew up, and down came this letter and half a crown upon my head. It could not have fallen better, there"s not a fellow in town more handy than I am, nor, though I say it more cute at private business--So I resolved to deliver it safely--Is your honour"s name Clifford?
_Lord G._ No, indeed, friend, I am not so happy a man.
_Sir C._ [_Aside._] That letter must not be lost though. Here, my friend--I"ll take charge of your letter. [_Takes the Letter._]
Something for your pains.
_Chairman._ G.o.d bless your honour, and if you want to send an answer, my number is forty-seven in Bond Street--your honour, I am known by the name of secret Tom.
[_Exit._
_Lord G._ What is the use of this deceit? strong as my suspicion is, a seal must be sacred.
_Sir C._ Our circ.u.mstances make an exception to your rule: when there is treason in the state, wax gives way. [_Takes the Letter, opens and reads it._] "Faith, this is beyond my expectation--though the mystery is unfathomable, the aptness of it to my purpose is admirable--Gayville--I wish you joy.
_Lord G._ Of what?
_Sir C._ Of conviction! if this is not plain! only hear. [_Reads._]
_Since my confused lines of a few minutes past, my perplexities redouble upon my spirits--I am in momentary apprehension of farther insult from the Alscrip family; I am still more anxious to avoid Lord Gayville,_ [Pauses and looks at LORD GAYVILLE.] _do not suspect my sincerity--I have not a thought of him that ought to disturb you._--Here she is, Gayville, look at her, through the true medium of mutual affection--_I have not a thought of him that might to disturb you--Fly to me, secure me, my dearest Henry._
_Lord G._ Dearest Henry!
_Sir C._ [Reads on.] _Dearest Henry--In this call, the danger of your Harriet unites with the impatience of her affection._
_Lord G._ h.e.l.l, and fury! this must be some trick, some forgery.
[_s.n.a.t.c.hes the Letter._]--No, by all that"s perfidious, it is that exquisite hand, that baffles imitation.
_Sir C._ All, regular, strict, undeviating modern morals--common property is the first principle of friendship; your horse, your house, your purse, your mistress--nay, your wife, would be a better example still of the doctrine of this generous age. Bless fortune, Gayville, that has brought the fidelity of your friend and your girl to the test at the same time.
_Lord G._ Sir, I am not in a humour for any spleen but my own. What can this mean? It must have been a secret attachment for years--but then the avowal of a correspondence, and the confusion at receiving it--his coldness in traducing her; the pa.s.sionate interest he expressed in her fate; the conviction of his second letter--It is all delirium. I"ll search the matter to the bottom, though I go to Clifford"s heart for it.
[_Exit in great anger._
_Sir C._ I"ll after the precious fellow too--He is a rogue above my hopes, and the intricacy of his snares excite my curiosity.
[_Exit._
SCENE III.
_LADY EMILY"s Apartment._
_LADY EMILY discovered, reading._
_Lady E._ It will not do. My eyes may run over a thousand subjects, but my thoughts centre in one. Ah! that sigh! that sigh from the fair sufferer this morning----I have found it echo in my own heart ever since.
_Enter SERVANT._
_Serv._ Madam, Mr. Blandish.
_Lady E._ Pooh! did you say I was at home?
_Serv._ Your ladyship gave no orders to the contrary.
_Lady E._ Show him in. [_Exit SERVANT._] I must take up my air of levity again--It is the only humour for a fellow who I sometimes allow to entertain me, but who can never get my esteem. I have more calls upon my affectation this unlucky day, than my real disposition would execute in a long life.
_Enter BLANDISH._
_Lady E._ Blandish, I am horridly peevish; have you any thing new to divert me?
_Blandish._ If you ask me for news, the latest is, that Clifford has been detected in a clandestine intercourse with the object of Lord Gayville"s secret pa.s.sion; that he has betrayed the confidence of his friend and patron, and actually carried her off. [_Aside._] Which, Gayville knows by this time, with all its aggravations, or Prompt has not been as active as he used to be.
_Lady E._ [_With Emotion._] Blandish, this is a poor project. Clifford treacherous to his friend? You might as soon make me believe Gayville dispa.s.sionate, my uncle charitable, or you ingenuous.
_Blandish._ His conduct does not rest upon opinion, but proof; and when you know it, you must think of him with aversion.