LOFTY. Delicate creature! your commands could even control a debate at midnight; to a power so constitutional, I am all obedience and tranquility. He shall have a letter; where is my secretary? Dubardieu! And yet, I protest, I don't like this way of doing business. I think if I spoke first to Sir William—But you will have it so. [_Exit with_ MISS RICH. SIR WILLIAM _alone_. SIR WILL. Ha, ha, ha! This too is one of my nephew's hopeful associates. O vanity, thou constant deceiver, how do all thy efforts to exalt, serve but to sink us! thy false colourings, like those employed to heighten beauty, only seem to mend that bloom which they contribute to destroy. I'm not displeased at this interview; exposing this fellow's impudence to the contempt it deserves, may be of use to my design; at least, if he can reflect, it will be of use to himself. _Enter_ JARVIS. SIR WILL. How now, Jarvis, where's your master my nephew? JARVIS. At his wit's end, I believe; he's scarce gotten out of one scrape, but he's running his head into another. SIR WILL. How so? JARVIS. The house has but just been cleared of the bailiffs, and now he's again engaging tooth and nail in assisting old Croaker's son to patch up a clandestine match with the young lady that passes in the house for his sister. SIR WILL. Ever busy to serve others. JARVIS. Ay, any body but himself. The young couple, it seems, are just setting out for Scotland, and he supplies them with money for the journey. SIR WILL. Money! how is he able to supply others, who has scarce any for himself? JARVIS. Why, there it is; he has no money, that's true; but then, as he never said No to any request in his life, he has given them a bill drawn by a friend of his upon a merchant in the city, which I am to get changed; for you must know that I am to go with them to Scotland myself. SIR WILL. How! JARVIS. It seems the young gentleman is obliged to take a different road from his mistress, as he is to call upon an uncle of his that lives out of the way, in order to prepare a place for their reception, when they return; so they have borrowed me from my master, as the properest person to attend the young lady down. SIR WILL. To the land of matrimony! A pleasant journey, Jarvis. JARVIS. Ay, but I'm only to have all the fatigues on't. SIR WILL. Well, it may be shorter, and less fatiguing, than you imagine. I know but too much of the young lady's family and connexions, whom I have seen abroad, I have also discovered that Miss Richland is not indifferent to my thoughtless nephew; and will endeavour, though I fear in vain, to establish that connexion. But, come, the letter I wait for must be almost finished; I'll let you further into my intentions in the next room. [_Exeunt._ ACT IV. SCENE.—CROAKER'S _House_.