LOFTY.—"_Ay, stick it where you will; for, by the Lord, it cuts but a very poor figure where it sticks at present._"—_p._ 318. ] CROAKER. Indeed? How! why! LOFTY. In one word, things between Sir William and me, must be behind the curtain. A party has many eyes. He sides with Lord Buzzard; I side with Sir Gilbert Goose. So that unriddles the mystery. CROAKER. And so it does, indeed, and all my suspicions are over. LOFTY. Your suspicions? What, then, you have been suspecting, have you? Mr. Croaker, you and I were friends; we are friends no longer. Never talk to me. It's over; I say, it's over. CROAKER. As I hope for your favour, I did not mean to offend. It escaped me. Don't be discomposed. LOFTY. Zounds, sir, but I am discomposed, and will be discomposed. To be treated thus! Who am I? Was it for this I have been dreaded both by ins and outs? Have I been libelled in the Gazetteer, and praised in the St. James's? Have I been cheered at Wildman's, and a speaker at Merchant Tailors' Hall? Have I had my hand to addresses, and my head in the print-shops; and talk to me of suspects? CROAKER. My dear sir, be pacified. What can you have but asking pardon? LOFTY. Sir, I will not be pacified.—Suspects! Who am I? To be used thus, have I paid court to men in favour to serve my friends, the lords of the treasury, Sir William Honeywood, and the rest of the gang, and talk to me of suspects? Who am I, I say? who am I? SIR WILL. Since, sir, you're so pressing for an answer, I'll tell you who you are—a gentleman, as well acquainted with politics as with men in power; as well acquainted with persons of fashion as with modesty; with lords of the treasury as with truth; and with all as you are with Sir William Honeywood. I am Sir William Honeywood. _Discovering his ensigns of the Bath._ CROAKER. Sir William Honeywood! HONEYW. Astonishment! my uncle! _Aside._ LOFTY. So then, my confounded genius has been all this time only leading me up to the garret, in order to fling me out of the window. CROAKER. What, Mr. Importance, and are these your works? Suspect you! You, who have been dreaded by the ins and outs: you, who have had your hand to addresses, and your head stuck up in print-shops. If you were served right, you should have your head stuck up in the pillory. LOFTY. Ay, stick it where you will; for, by the Lord, it cuts but a very poor figure where it sticks at present. SIR WILL. Well, Mr. Croaker, I hope you now see how incapable this gentleman is of serving you, and how little Miss Richland has to expect from his influence. CROAKER. Ay, sir, too well I see it, and I can't but say I have had some boding of it these ten days. So I'm resolved, since my son has placed his affections on a lady of moderate fortune, to be satisfied with his choice, and not run the hazard of another Mr. Lofty in helping him to a better.