Sir _Fran._ Mayhap 'at yow have no great opinion of it then, cousin? _Man._ Sir _Francis_, to do you the service of a real friend, I must speak very plainly to you: you don't yet see half the ruin that's before you. Sir _Fran._ Good-lack! how may yow mean, cousin? _Man._ In one word, your whole affairs stand thus----In a week you'll lose your seat at _Westminster_: In a fortnight my lady will run you into jail, by keeping the best company----In four and twenty hours, your daughter will run away with a sharper, because she han't been us'd to better company: and your son will steal into marriage with a cast-mistress, because he has not been us'd to any company at all. Sir _Fran._ I'th' name of goodness why should you think all this? _Man._ Because I have proof of it; in short, I know so much of their secrets, that if all this is not prevented to-night, it will be out of your power to do it to-morrow morning. Sir _Fran._ Mercy upon us! you frighten me----Well, Sir, I will be govern'd by yow: but what am I to do in this case? _Man._ I have not time here to give you proper instructions; but about eight this evening, I'll call at your lodgings; and there you shall have full conviction, how much I have it at heart to serve you. _Enter a Servant._ _Serv._ Sir, my Lord desires to speak with you. _Man._ I'll wait upon him. Sir _Fran._ Well then, I'll go straight home, naw. _Man._ At eight depend upon me. Sir _Fran._ Ah! dear cousin! I shall be bound to you as long as I live. Mercy deliver us! what a terrible journey have I made on't! [_Exeunt severally._ _The +SCENE+ opens to a dressing room. Lady ~Townly~, as just up, walks to her toilet, leaning on Mrs. ~Trusty~._ _Trusty._ Dear Madam, what should make your Ladyship so out of order! Lady _Town._ How is it possible to be well, where one is kill'd for want of sleep? _Trusty._ Dear me! it was so long before you rung, Madam, I was in hopes your Ladyship had been finely compos'd. Lady _Town._ Compos'd! why I have laid in an inn here! this house is worse than an inn with ten stage-coaches! What between my lord's impertinent people of business in a morning, and the intolerable thick shoes of footmen at noon, one has not a wink all night. _Trusty._ Indeed, Madam, it's a great pity my Lord can't be persuaded into the hours of people of quality----Though I must say that, Madam, your Ladyship is certainly the best matrimonial manager in town. Lady _Town._ Oh! you are quite mistaken, _Trusty_! I manage very ill! for notwithstanding all the power I have, by never being over-fond of my lord----yet I want money infinitely oftener than he is willing to give it me. _Trusty._ Ah, if his lordship could but be brought to play himself, Madam, then he might feel what it is to want money. Lady _Town._ Oh! don't talk of it! do you know that I am undone, _Trusty_? _Trusty._ Mercy forbid, Madam!