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An old man's visage and a young maid's heart
Match ill together, but look well apart.

(Opens the door, and enter Sir William Stanton.)

SIR WILLIAM (gaily attired).

Good morrow, Master Grimes! I'm punctual

To the hour.

GRIMES.

Good morrow, good Sir William! Thou art come
Right excellently, and well apparelled,

To whisper love in a fair lady's ear.

The man is much indebted to his tailor. (Sarcastically.)

SIR WILLIAM.

Why, Master Grimes, a lady doth command respect;
And I respect the said command so much,

That ever, in my outward garb, I strive

Their gentler fancies and bright eyes to please,
Matching my tongue unto it.

GRIMES.

Thou sayest well; I, also, promise much!

Will't please you follow me?

SCENE II.-Sea-shore.

(Exeunt R. H. C.)

Enter LESTER and PERCY, L.

LESTER.

I am no beggar! He shall let me rooms!
If gold he want, why, he shall have his fill!

PERCY.

A golden plan!-a bait; he's sure to bite!

Yet, I much fear thy love is but a dream!
An unsubstantial vision of the mind!

LESTER.

Percy, I have not been deceived!

PERCY.

Had any fair young creature ever dwelt
Within those dingy walls, I must have known
The circumstance e'er this.

LESTER.

The mystery shall be solved this night, or

I will die in the discovery! Ah!

Where shall I get some flowers?-they shall speak
My love! The plan-it cannot fail!-

You part for Town to-night?

PERCY.

I do; but shall return within a week:-
I want the gold you hate!

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SCENE III.-A Room in Grimes's House.

Enter SIR WILLIAM and GRIMES.

GRIMES.

WHAT has thy mistress done to cloud thine eyes?

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She looked into mine eyes to read my soul,
And kept her full bright gaze upon me, till
I saw strange likeness living in her face!
It was a look so sad, so piteous,

That over all my brow a moisture lay!
Beholding this, she started up, and fell
Down at my feet, and sobbed and prayed
Until her gentle heart seemed fit to break;

And then, declaring I had not her love,

Nor ever could have, besought me straight to leave Her!

GRIMES.

What, beaten thus !-Oh! if she is worth winning,
She is worthy chase! To-morrow come again;
And so repeat your visits day by day,
Until I do return: try fair means first;
If they do not succeed, why others shall!

SIR WILLIAM.

I will remember! Farewell, Master Grimes;
A prosperous journey to you.

GRIMES (passionate exultation).

A fox! a fox! a very fox!-a man-trap too!

Yet cannot catch a woman!

(Exit D. L.)

She will not, cannot love him. 'Tis not strange!
The fallow land already's broken up ;-

The dormant seed of love has burst its shell,

And through the new-ploughed heart has made its way, Warmed by a sun as yet unknown to her!

(Enter MARGARET L. U. E.)

MARGARET.

A cavalier would speak a word with you.

Bid him enter.

GRIMES.

One of King Charles's breed :—we always know them
By their length of ears! Why so are asses known!
(Margaret ushers in Lester Burton.)

LESTER BURTON (with a bouquet of moss-roses
in his hand).

Master Grimes, or I mistake.

GRIMES.

What is your pleasure; art in want of gold?
You take none hence, except on such security
As will permit the keenest scrutiny.

I want not gold :

LESTER BURTON.

I would be hidden from the busy world!
For, since the Courtney faction failed to raise
The West! Shaftesbury the City! the plot
Has failed, and every man's suspected!
Charles rages like a tiger in his lair!

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I am a gentleman; and do affirm

I would not willingly intrude upon

Your privacy, nor would hurt the gentler
Feelings of your nature!

Well.

GRIMES.

LESTER.

My soul is sinking now beneath his gaze:-
Here, Sir, are fifteen guineas for the week.

Dost mock me, Sir?

GRIMES.

LESTER.

If this will not suffice, some fifteen more!
My life my life depends on your reply!

GRIMES.

Know ye not where you stand?

LESTER.

In the house of Grimes, the usurer!

(Aside.)

(Haughtily.)

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