(SHARK _lays hold of him while Mr._ DEATH _measures him_) _Skin._ Are you going to murder me? You Villain! Here Lucy, Nephew, Murder! (_Enter_ LUCY _and_ BELLAIR) _Bell._ How now, what's the matter? Are you going to rob my Uncle? _Death._ No, no, Sir, we are only taking Measure of him for a Coffin. _Skin._ O Nephew, they have almost killed me! Here is your cousin Bumper come to take Possession of my Fortune whether I will or no; and [he] has brought a frightful Fellow to take Measure of me for a Coffin and Shroud, and swears he will bury me within these three days, dead or alive. _Bell._ Are not you ashamed, Cousin Bumper, to use our Uncle so inhumanly? _Shar._ Damn you Prig, have you a mind to resent it? If you have, lug out, and I'll soon dispatch you. (_Draws_) _Skin._ Was there ever such a bloody minded Villain? Dear Nephew, come in with me; I'll do his Business for him in a more effectual way than fighting. I'll swear the Peace against him and make my Will, without leaving him a Shilling. (_Exit with Bellair_) _Shar._ So far the Plow speeds. I think we have done Mr. Bumper's Business for him. That Obstacle is pretty well removed--We have nothing to do now but to provide for his Sister the Widow, and then to contrive some means to frighten the old Fellow into a Will in favour of my Master. _Lucy._ Ay, Shark, that is the chiefest Difficulty, the Masterpiece, and unless you accomplish that you do nothing. _Shar._ I know it, my Dear; here, here (_pointing to his head_), here, here--the Embryo is here, and will come forth perfect in less than ten Minutes. Why Lucy, I have a Genius to Deceit, and wanted nothing but an Opportunity to shew it. _Lucy._ I think you have a very fair one now. _Shar._ I have so, and never fear, Girl, I'll engage I make a proper use of it. Lord, how many great Men have been lost for want of being thrown into a proper light? On my Conscience, had I been bred in a Court, I believe I should have made as great a Figure as ever Cromwell did, for _The Stateman's Skill like mine is all Deceit_ _What's Policy in him--in me's a Cheat._ _Titles and Wealth reward his noble Art,_ _Cudgels and Bruises mine--sometimes a Cart._ _Twas, is and will he, to the End of Time,_ _That Poverty not Fraud creates the Crime._ (_Exeunt_) ACT II (_Enter_ BELLAIR _and_ LUCY) _Bell._ What Coach was that stopt at the Door? _Lucy._ My Lady Lovewealth's, Sir. I told her Miss Harriet was gone home, and that my Master was gone out in a Chair to some of his Lawyers, for I could not let her see Sir Isaac. _Bell._ You were right, Lucy. Where is Shark? _Lucy._ In my Room, Sir, dressing for the Widow. (SKINFLINT _within_) _Skin._ Lucy, why Lucy, ugh, ugh, where are you, Wench? _Bell._ I'll leave you with my Uncle, Lucy, while I step up and hasten Shark. (_Exit_ [_Bellair_]) (_Enter_ SKINFLINT)