-by the sweet innocence of your yet helpless child, and by the ceaseless sorrows of my poor mistress, to rouse your manhood, and struggle with these griefs! Bev. Thou virtuous, good old man! Thy tears, and thy entreaties have reached my heart, through all its miseries.

Jar. Be but resign'd, sir, and happiness may yet be yours.-Hark! I hear voices-Come this way: we may reach home unnoticed.

Bev. Well, lead me then-unnoticed didst thou say? Alas! I dread no looks, but of those wretches I have made at home.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.

STUKELY'S Lodgings.

Enter STUKELY and DAWSON.

Stuke. Come hither, Dawson; my limbs are on the rack, and my soul shivers in me, till this night's business be complete.-Tell me thy thoughts; is Bates determined, or does he waver?

Daw. At first he seemed irresolute!-wished the employment had been mine; and muttered curses on his coward hand, that trembled at the deed.

Stuke. And did he leave you so ?

Daw. No; we walked together, and, sheltered by the darkness, saw Beverley and Lewson, in warm de bate; but soon they cooled, and then I left them, to hasten hither; but not till 'twas resolved Lewson should die.

Stuke. Thy words have given me life.-That quarrel too was fortunate; for, if my hopes deceive me not, it promises a grave to Beverley.

Daw. You misconceive me-Lewson and he were friends.

Stuke. But my prolific brain shall make them enemies. If Lewson falls he falls by Beverley-Ask me no question, but do as I direct. This writ, [Takes out a Pocket-book.] for some days past I have treasured here, till a convenient time called for its useThat time is come; take it, and give it to an officer -It must be served this instant. [Gives a Paper. Daw. On Beverley !

Stuke. Look at it. It is for the sums that I have lent him.

Daw. Must he to prison then?

Stuke. I ask obedience, not replies. This night a gaol must be his lodging. 'Tis probable he's not gone home yet.-Wait at his door, and see it executed.

Daw. Upon a beggar !-He has no means of pay

ment.

Stuke. Dull and insensible !—If Lewson dies, who was it killed him? Why, he that was seen quarrelling with him: and I, that knew of Beverley's intents, arrested him in friendship—A little late, perhaps; but 'twas a virtuous act, and men will thank me for it. Now, sir, you understand me?

Daw. Most perfectly; and will about it.

Stuke. Haste, then; and when 'tis done, come back, and tell me.

Daw. Till then, farewell.

[Exit.

Stuke. Now tell thy tale, fond wife! And, Lewson, if again thou canst insult me,

Not avarice now, but vengeance, fires my breast, And one short hour must make me cursed or bless'd.

[Exit.

ACT THE FIFTH.

SCENE I.

STUKELY'S Lodgings.

Enter STUKELY, BATES, and DAWSON.

Bates. Poor Lewson !-But I told you enough last night. The thought of him is horrible to me.

Stuke. In the street, did you say? and no one near him?

Bates. By his own door; he was leading me to his house. I pretended business with him, and stabbed him to the heart, while he was reaching at the bell.

Stuke. And did he fall so suddenly?

Bates. The repetition pleases you, I see-I told you he fell without a groan.

Stuke. What heard you of him this morning?

Bates. That the watch found him in their rounds, and alarmed the servants. I mingled with the crowd just now, and saw him dead in his own house.-The sight terrified me.

Stuke. Away with terrors, till his ghost rise, and accuse us. We have no living enemy to fear, unless 'tis Beverley; and him we have lodged safe in prison. Bates. Must he be murdered too?

Stuke. No; I have a scheme to make the law his murderer. At what hour did Lewson fall?

Bates. The clock struck twelve as I turned to

-leave him-'Twas a melancholy bell, I thought, ringing for his death.

Stuke. The time was lucky for us-Beverley was arrested at one, you say? [TO DAWSON.

Daw. Exactly.

Stuke. Good. We'll talk of this presently. The women were with him, I think?

Daw. And old Jarvis. I would have told you of them last night, but your thoughts were too busy.— 'Tis well you have a heart of stone; the tale would melt it else.

Stuke. Out with it, then.

Daw. I traced him to his lodgings; and, pretending pity for his misfortunes, kept the door open while the officers seized him. 'Twas a damned deed!--but no matter-I followed my instructions.

Stuke. And what said he?

Daw. He upbraided me with treachery, called you a villain, acknowledged the sums you had lent him, and submitted to his fortune.

Stuke. And the women

Daw. For a few minutes astonishment kept them silent. They looked wildly at one another, while the tears streamed down their cheeks. But rage and fury soon gave them words; and then, in the very bitterness of despair, they cursed me, and the mon. ster that had employed me.

Stuke. And you bore it with philosophy?

Daw. Till the scene changed, and then I melted. I ordered the officers to take away their prisoner. The women shrieked, and would have followed him; but we forbade them. 'Twas then they fell upon their knees, the wife fainted, the sister raving, and both, with all the eloquence of misery, endeavouring to soften us. I never felt compassion till that moment; and, had the officers been moved like me, we had left the business undone, and fled with curses on ourselves. But their hearts were steeled by custom. The

sighs of beauty, and the pangs of affection, were beneath their pity. They tore him from their arms, and lodged him in prison, with only Jarvis to com

fort him.

Stuke. There let him lie, till we have farther business with him-You saw him quarrelling with Lewson in the street, last night? [TO BATES.]

Bates. I did: his steward, Jarvis, saw him too.

Stuke. And shall attest it; here's matter to work upon-An unwilling evidence carries weight with him-Something of my design I have hinted t'you before-Beverley must be the author of this murder; and we the parties to convict him-But how to proceed will require time and thought-Come along with me-the room within is fitted for privacy-But no compassion, sir! [To DAWSON.] We want leisure for't. This way. [Exeunt.

SCENE II.

BEVERLEY'S Lodgings.

Enter MRS BEVERLEY and CHARLOTTE.

Mrs Bev. No news of Lewson yet?

Char. None. He went out early, and knows not what has happened.

Mrs Bev. The clock strikes eight-I'll wait no longer.

Char. Stay but till Jarvis comes. twice to stop us till we see him.

He has sent

Mrs Bev. Oh, what a night was last night! I would not pass another such to purchase worlds by it-My poor Beverley too! What must he have felt? I wanted love for him, or they had not forced him