Next Door Neighbours: A Comedy; In Three ActsInchbald, Mrs.
General
Next Door Neighbours: A Comedy; In Three Acts
Inchbald, Mrs.
English drama (Comedy)
SIR GEORGE. [_Laying the pistol on the table._
Impertinent puppy; to ruffle the temper of a man of fashion with hints
of prudence and morality, and paying his debts--all this from a
servant too. The insolent, chattering----
_Enter_ BLUNTLY.
BLUNTLY.
May I speak now, sir?
SIR GEORGE.
What have you to say?
BLUNTLY.
Mr. Blackman, sir.
SIR GEORGE.
Bid him come in.
_Enter_ BLACKMAN. _Exit_ BLUNTLY.
SIR GEORGE.
Good morning, Mr. Blackman; come, sit down.
BLACKMAN. [_Bowing respectfully._
I am glad, Sir George, I have found you alone, for I come to speak to
you on important business.
SIR GEORGE.
Business!----no--not now if you please.
BLACKMAN.
But I must, sir--I have been here ten times before, and have been put
off, but now you must hear what I have to say.
SIR GEORGE.
Don't be long then--don't be tedious, Mr. Blackman--for I expect a,
a--in short, I expect a pretty woman.
BLACKMAN.
When she comes, I will go.
SIR GEORGE.
Very well, speak quickly then. What have you to say?
BLACKMAN.
I come to speak upon the subject of your father's will; by which you
know, you run the hazard of losing great part of what he left behind.
SIR GEORGE.
But what am I to do?
BLACKMAN.
There is no time to be lost. Consider, that Mr. Manly, the lawyer,
whom your father employed, is a man who pretends to a great deal of
morality; and it was he who, when your father found himself dying,
alarmed his conscience, and persuaded him to make this Will in favour
of a second person. Now, I think that you and I both together, ought
to have a meeting with this conscientious lawyer.
SIR GEORGE.
But I should imagine, Mr. Blackman, that if he is really a
conscientious man, you and he will not be upon good terms.
BLACKMAN.
Oh! people of our avocation differ in respect to conscience. Puzzle,
confound, and abuse each other, and yet are upon good terms.
SIR GEORGE.
But I fear----
BLACKMAN.
Fear nothing.--There are a vast number of resources in our art.--It is
so spacious, and yet so confined--so sublime, and yet so profound--so
distinct, and yet so complicated--that if ever this person with whom
your fortune is divided should be found, I know how to envelope her
in a labyrinth, where she shall be lost again in a hurry.----But your
father's lawyer being a very honest--I mean a very particular man in
his profession,--I have reason to fear we cannot gain him over to our
purpose.--If, therefore,--
_Enter_ BLUNTLY.
SIR GEORGE.
My visitor is come, as I told you.
BLACKMAN. [_Rising._
And I am gone, as I told you. [_Going._
_Enter_ ELEANOR.
BLACKMAN. [_Aside._
My lodger! ah! ah! (_To her in a whisper_) You may stay another
quarter. [_Exit._
SIR GEORGE.
(_To_ Eleanor) I am glad to see you.--Bluntly--
[_Makes a sign to him to leave the room._
BLUNTLY.
Sir?
[SIR GEORGE _waves his hand and nods his head a second
time_.
BLUNTLY.
Sir?----
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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