BLACKMAN. Sir George is something nervous, Mr. Manly; and you know the very name of a medical gentleman, will affect the nerves of some people. [BLACKMAN _goes to the door, and leads on_ BLUNTLY, _dressed in mourning_. SIR GEORGE. [_Aside._ Bluntly!--But I will see the end of this. MANLY. (_Bowing to him_). You are an apothecary, I think, sir? [BLUNTLY _looks at_ BLACKMAN] BLACKMAN. Yes, sir. BLUNTLY. (_After seeming inclined to say_, No). Yes, sir. MANLY. Pray sir, what disorder took the young lady, on whose account you have been brought hither, out of the world? [BLUNTLY _looks at_ BLACKMAN.] BLACKMAN. Oh! the old disorder, I suppose. BLUNTLY. The old disorder. MANLY. And pray what may that be, sir? (BLACKMAN _offers to reply_). Mr. Blackman, Please to let this gentleman speak for himself.--What is it you mean, pray sir, by the old disorder? BLUNTLY. I--I--mean--Love, sir. MANLY. You will not pretend to say, that love, was the cause of her death? BLUNTLY. (_Confused and hesitating_). That--and a few fits of the gout. MANLY. I fear, sir, you are not in perfect health yourself--you tremble and look very pale. BLACKMAN. That is because the subject affects him. MANLY. Do you then never mention the young lady without being affected? BLUNTLY. Never, sir--for had you seen her as I did--um--Had you seen her.----She was in very great danger from the first; but after I attended her, she was in greater danger still.--I advised a physician to be called in; on which she grew worse.--We had next a consultation of physicians; and then it was all over with her. SIR GEORGE. (_Rising from his chair_). Blackman, this is too much--all my calamities are inferior to this--Desist, therefore, or---- BLACKMAN. (_To_ BLUNTLY.) Desist--He cannot bear to hear the pathetic description. Consider the lady was his sister--and though he had not the pleasure of knowing her--yet, poor thing--(_affecting to weep_)--poor young woman! he cannot help lamenting her loss. BLUNTLY. No more can I--for though she was not my relation--yet she was my Patient. (_pretending to weep also_). SIR GEORGE. I can bear no more.--Mr. Manly, you are imposed upon. But think not, however appearances may be against me, that I came here as the tool of so infamous a deceit.--Thoughtlessness, Mr. Manly, has embarrassed my circumstances; and thoughtlessness alone, has made me employ a villain to retrieve them. BLACKMAN. Mighty fine! SIR GEORGE. I have no authority, sir, to affirm, that my sister is not alive; and I am confident the account you have just now heard, of her death, is but an artifice. My indiscretions have reduced me nearly to beggary; but I will perish in confinement--cheerfully perish--rather than owe my affluence to one dishonourable action. BLACKMAN. Grief has turned his brain.