ACT V. SCENE Ι. Enter Sir George in his Conjurer's Habit, the Butler marching before him with two large Candles, and the two Servants coming after him, one bringing a little Table, and another a Chair. A BUTLER. 1 N'T please your worship, Mr. Conjurer, the steward has given all of us orders to do whatever you shall bid us, and pay you the same respect, as if you were our master. Sir GEORGE. GARDINER. Peter! he knows my name by his learning. COACHΜΑΝ. [Afide I have brought you, reverend Sir, the largest elbow. chair in the house; 'tis that the steward fits in when he holds a court. Sir GEORGE. Place it there. 1. "BUTLER Sir, will you please to want any thing else? Sir Sir GEORGE. Paper, and a pen and ink. BUTLER. Sir, I believe we have paper that is fit for your purpose! my Lady's mourning paper, that is blacked at the edges would you choose to write with a crow-quill? Sir GEORGE. There is none better. BUTLER. Coachman, go fetch the paper and ftandish out of the little parlour. COACHMAN. [to the Gardiner.] Peter, prythee do thou go along with me I'm afraid -you know I went with you last night into the garden, when the Cook-maid wanted a handful of parsley. BUTLER. Why, you don't think I'll stay with the Conjurer by myself! GARDINER. Come, we'll all three go and fetch the pen and ink together... [Exeunt fervants. Sir GEORGE, folus. There's nothing, Ifee, makes such strong alliances as fear. These fellows are all entered into a confederacy against the ghost. There must be abundance of business done in the family at this rate. But here comes the triple alliance. Who could have thought these three rogues could have found each of 'em an employment in fetching a pen and ink? Enter Gardiner with a sheet of paper, Coachman with a Standish, and Butler with a Pen. GARDINER. Sir, there is your paper. COACH COACHΜΑΝ. Sir, there is your standish. BUTLER. Sir, there is your crow-quill pen - I'm glad I have got rid on't. GARDINER. He forgets that he's to make a circle [Afide.] Doctor, shall I help you to a bit of chalk? It is no matter. Sir GEORGE. BUTLER. [Afide. Look ye, Sir, I showed you the spot where he's heard oftenest, if your worship can but ferret him out of that old wall in that next room We shall try. Sir GEORGE. GARDINER. That's right, John. His worship must let fly all his learning at that old wall. BUTLER. Sir, if I was worthy to advise you, I would have a bottle of good October by me. Shall I fet stingo at your elbow? Sir GEORGE. I thank thee-we shall do without it. a cup of old Jobn, he seems a very good-natured man for a con jurer. BUTLER. I'll take this opportunity of enquiring after a bit of plate I have loft. I fancy, whilst he is in my Lady's pay, one may hedge in a question or two into the bargain. Sir, Sir, may I beg a word in your ear? Sir GEORGE. What wouldst thou ? BUT BUTLER Sir, I know I need not tell you, that I lost one of my filver spoons last week. Sir GEORGE. Marked with a swan's neck. BUTLER. My Lady's crest! He knows every thing. [Afide.] How would your worship advise me to recover it again? Sir GEORGE Hum! BUTLER. What must I do to come at it? Sir GEORGE. Drink nothing but small-beer for a fortnight BUTLER. Small-beer! Rot-gut! Sir GEORGE. If thou drink'st a single drop of ale before fifteen days are expired-it is as much as thy spoon-is worth. BUTLER. I shall never recover it that way; I'll e'en buy a new one. COACHΜΑΝ. D'ye mind how they whisper? (Afide. GARDINER. I'll be hang'd if he be not asking him something about Nell. COACHΗΜΑΝ. I'll take this opportunity of putting a question to him about poor Dobbin: I fancy he could give me better counsel than the farrier. BUTLER. [to the Gardiner.] A prodigious man! he knows every thing: Now is the time to find thy pick-ax. GARDINER. I have nothing to give him: Does not he expect to have his hand crossed with filver ? COACH COACHMAN. [to Sir George.) Sir, may a man venture to ask you a question ? Afk it. Sir GEORGE. COACΗΜΑΝ. I have a poor horse in the stable that's bewitched To a day. (Afide.) Now, Sir, I would know whether the poor beast is bewitched by goody Crouch or goody Flye? Neither. Sir GEORGE. COACΗΜΑΝ. Then it must be goody Gurton? for she is the next old woman in the parish. GARDINER. Haft thou done, Robin? COACHMAN. (to the Gardiner.) He can tell thee any thing. GARDINER. (to Sir George.) Sir I would beg to take you a little further out of hearing : Sir GEORGE., Speak. T GARDINER. The butler and I, Mr. Doctor, were both of us in love at the same time with a certain person. |
