LOFTY. Oh, a modern! We men of business despise the moderns; and as for the ancients, we have no time to read them. Poetry is a pretty thing enough for our wives and daughters; but not for us. Why now, here I stand that know nothing of books; I say, madam, I know nothing of books; and yet, I believe, upon a land carriage fishery, a stamp act, or a jaghire, I can talk my two hours without feeling the want of them. MRS. CROAKER. The world is no stranger to Mr. Lofty's eminence in every capacity. LOFTY. I vow to gad, madam, you make me blush. I'm nothing, nothing, nothing, in the world; a mere obscure gentleman. To be sure, indeed, one or two of the present ministers are pleased to represent me as a formidable man. I know they are pleased to bespatter me at all their little dirty levees. Yet, upon my soul, I wonder what they see in me to treat me so. Measures, not men, have always been my mark; and I vow, by all that's honourable, my resentment has never done the men, as mere men, any manner of harm—that is, as mere men. MRS. CROAKER. What importance, and yet what modesty! LOFTY. Oh, if you talk of modesty, madam; there, I own, I'm accessible to praise: modesty is my foible: it was so, the Duke of Brentford used to say of me. I love Jack Lofty, he used to say: no man has a finer knowledge of things; quite a man of information; and when he speaks upon his legs, by the Lord he's prodigious; he scouts them: and yet all men have their faults; too much modesty is his, says his grace. MRS. CROAKER. And yet, I dare say, you don't want assurance when you come to solicit for your friends. LOFTY. O, there indeed I'm in bronze. Apropos, I have just been mentioning Miss Richland's case to a certain personage; we must name no names. When I ask, I am not to be put off, madam. No, no, I take my friend by the button. "A fine girl, sir; great justice in her case. A friend of mine. Borough interest. Business must be done, Mr. Secretary. I say, Mr. Secretary, her business must be done, sir." That's my way, madam. MRS. CROAKER. Bless me! you said all this to the secretary of state, did you? LOFTY. I did not say the secretary, did I? Well, curse it, since you have found me out I will not deny it. It was to the secretary. MRS. CROAKER. This was going to the fountain head at once; not applying to the understrappers, as Mr. Honeywood would have had us. LOFTY. Honeywood! he-he! He was, indeed, a fine solicitor. I suppose you have heard what has just happened to him? MRS. CROAKER. Poor dear man! No accident, I hope. LOFTY. Undone, madam, that's all. His creditors have taken him into custody. A prisoner in his own house. MRS. CROAKER. A prisoner in his own house! How! At this very time? I'm quite unhappy for him. LOFTY. Why, so am I. The man, to be sure, was immensely good-natured; but then, I could never find that he had anything in him.