SKRUFF. Personally, no!--professionally, as the signer of accommodation-bills by the bushel, intimately! FLOR. Mr. Mallingford? There must be some mistake! SKRUFF. Yes! it was a gigantic mistake on your old fool of an uncle's part to admit him here at all! If he'd had a grain of common-sense he'd have seen that he only came here after your ten thousand pounds. FLOR. (_smiling_). _My_ ten thousand pounds! SKRUFF (_aside_). She doesn't deny it! Rapture! FLOR. (_drawing a long sigh_). Ah! Mr. Skruff--what dangers surround the hapless girl destined by cruel fate to be an heiress! SKRUFF (_in a sympathizing tone_). It must be very unpleasant! though I never was an heiress myself! FLOR. Would that all men were as disinterested as you, sir! SKRUFF. True, Miss Florence--for my part, if I were to marry a young lady with ten thousand pounds-- FLOR. You'd settle it all on herself--I _know_--I'm _sure_ you would! The quiet charm of a country life would be unspeakable rapture to you! To help her to tend her flowers--to feed her poultry--to grow her own currants and gooseberries-- SKRUFF. And her own eggs--and new-laid butter! FLOR. But alas! Mallingford is my uncle's choice, and our union is irrevocable! SKRUFF. It wouldn't break your heart, then, to part with Teddy! because if you really _do_ feel a sort of a sneaking kindness for me, I'll do all I can for you, I will indeed. FLOR. (_with pretended emotion_). Oh, Mr. Skruff!--but, of course--my uncle--ah! he's here-- [_Runs off hastily into house._ SKRUFF. She refers me to her uncle! nothing could be plainer! I'll soon obtain his consent by enlightening his weak mind as to Master Teddy and his friend the captain! _Enter GRITTY at back._ GRITTY. Oh, here you are, Sammy! What the deuce have you been doing with yourself? SKRUFF (_aside_). I must give old Gritty a lesson! (_Aloud._) Mr. Gritty, allow me to remark, with the greatest possible respect, that you're an infant! a positive infant! GRITTY (_looking at him--aside_). Samuel's been at the sherry! SKRUFF. Yes, Gritty! there's a simple confiding innocence about you that's positively pitiable! GRITTY (_angrily_). Gently, Samuel, gently! What the deuce are you driving at? SKRUFF. In one word--what do you know about this Captain Taunton and Teddy? GRITTY. Teddy! who the deuce is Teddy? SKRUFF. Mr. Edward Mallingford. GRITTY. That they're as pleasant, gentlemanly a couple of young fellows as you'll find in England! What have you to say against them, eh? SKRUFF. Only this, that you've been done, Gritty--decidedly done! GRITTY (_aside_). He decidedly _has_ been at the sherry! (_Aloud._) Your proofs, Mr. Skruff! (_angrily_). SKRUFF. Nothing easier! Read that (_hands letter to GRITTY_).