GRITTY (_aside_). A careful young man this! but I'm afraid my old friend has made a trifling mistake in his calculations. He used to say it was time enough to make a gentleman when you'd made your money--but in my opinion, a man can't begin a bit too soon! (_Aloud._) Now, Sammy, come and take a stroll round the grounds, and I'll introduce you to my nieces, a couple of nice girls, Sammy! I hope you're a lady's man (_poking him in the ribs_), ha! ha! SKRUFF. Well, as a _rule,_ the sex _is_ rather partial to me!--ha! ha! (_giving GRITTY a poke in the ribs_). GRITTY. Is it? Well, there's no accounting for taste! SKRUFF. You see, father's well off--and the pickings 'll be uncommon good when the old boy pops off!--a great attraction to the female mind, Mr. Gritty! GRITTY. I dare say; but luckily, my girls will not have to look to _money_ as the main thing! (_Looking round, and then in a confidential whisper to SKRUFF._) Ten thousand pounds, left by a rich old aunt! which may probably fall to-- SKRUFF (_very eagerly_). Yes! to--to-- GRITTY (_in a whisper_). Florence! SKRUFF (_aside_). Oh! that's the one, is it? (_Writing aside in note-book._) Then down she goes, "Sally! Spronks! Florence!" GRITTY (_continuing_). Unless, indeed-- SKRUFF (_quickly_). Unless, indeed, what? GRITTY. Hetty should turn out to be the lucky one! SKRUFF (_aside_). Who's to make head or tail out of this? (_Aloud._) Then you don't exactly know which of the two it is? GRITTY. No, but I _shall,_ as soon as Hetty comes of age, by which time, by-the-bye, both the girls must, according to the terms of the will, be married. SKRUFF. Oh! (_Aside._) It strikes me this is a dodge to get the two girls off with one legacy! (_Aloud._) And when _does_ Miss Hetty come of age? GRITTY. In ten days. SKRUFF. Ten days? Rather a short time to provide two husbands in? GRITTY. Not at all! They're already provided!--both of 'em! SKRUFF. Already provided! (_Aside._) And this is what I get for coming down here and wasting my income in travelling expenses! but I'll make a fight of it yet! If they think they're going to walk over the course they'll find themselves mistaken! (_Aloud._) And what sort of articles are these young chaps, eh? You can't be too particular in selecting the _pattern,_ Mr. Gritty. GRITTY. Oh, they're all right!--nice gentlemanly young fellows! SKRUFF. Take care, Mr. Gritty!--I know pretty well what the general run of "gentlemanly young fellows" is!--they're uncommon fond of running long tailors' bills! GRITTY. Well, you shall judge for yourself--they both dine here to-day! SKRUFF. To-day? (_Aside._) Then I haven't much time to lose if I'm to cut 'em out! (_Aloud._) You haven't told me their names. GRITTY. Oh! one is a military man, Captain Taunton of the Buffs--the other, Edward Mallingford, of the War Office!