MISS RICH. A better head? LOFTY. Ay, at a bottle. To be sure he was as dull as a choice spirit; but hang it, he was grateful, very grateful; and gratitude hides a multitude of faults. SIR WILL. He might have reason, perhaps. His place is pretty considerable, I'm told. LOFTY. A trifle, a mere trifle, among us men of business. The truth is, he wanted dignity to fill up a greater. SIR WILL. Dignity of person, do you mean sir? I'm told he's much about my size and figure, sir. LOFTY. Ay, tall enough for a marching regiment; but then he wanted a something—a consequence of form—a kind of a—I believe the lady perceives my meaning. MISS RICH. O perfectly; you courtiers can do any thing, I see. LOFTY. My dear madam, all this is but a mere exchange; we do greater things for one another every day. Why as thus, now; let me suppose you the first lord of the treasury; you have an employment in you that I want; I have a place in me that you want; do me here, do you there: interest on both sides, few words, flat, done and done, and it's over. SIR WILL. A thought strikes me (_aside_). Now you mention Sir William Honeywood, madam, and as he seems, sir, an acquaintance of yours, you'll be glad to hear he's arrived from Italy; I had it from a friend who knows him as well as he does me, and you may depend on my information. [Illustration: LOFTY.—"_Either you or I, sir._"—_p._ 296. ] LOFTY. The devil he is! If I had known that we should not have been quite so well acquainted (_aside_). SIR WILL. He is certainly returned; and as this gentleman is a friend of yours, he can be of signal service to us, by introducing me to him; there are some papers relative to your affairs, that require dispatch and his inspection. MISS RICH. This gentleman, Mr. Lofty, is a person employed in my affairs: I know you'll serve us. LOFTY. My dear madam, I live but to serve you. Sir William shall even wait upon him, if you think proper to command it. SIR WILL. That would be quite unnecessary. LOFTY. Well, we must introduce you then. Call upon me—let me see—ay, in two days. SIR WILL. Now, or the opportunity will be lost for ever. LOFTY. Well, if it must be now, now let it be. But damn it, that's unfortunate; my lord Grig's cursed Pensacola business comes on this very hour, and I'm engaged to attend—another time— SIR WILL. A short letter to Sir William will do. LOFTY. You shall have it; yet, in my opinion, a letter is a very bad way of going to work; face to face, that's my way. SIR WILL. The letter sir, will do quite as well. LOFTY. Zounds, sir, do you pretend to direct me? direct me in the business of office? Do you know me, sir? who am I? MISS RICH. Dear Mr. Lofty, this request is not so much his as mine; if my commands—but you despise my power.