I’m so alarmed—so agitated, that—Alice, put your hand into my pocket and you’ll find a bottle. [ALICE_ produces a bottle._ RIP. [_Aside._] A leetle bottle! Oh, dat’s de [private](65) cupboard. Alice, let me hold de leetle bottle, whilst you fetch a glass for the old woman. [ALICE, _hastening off, brings a wine-glass, which_ RIP _fills and gives to_ DAME. RIP. Here’s your [go-to-hell],(66) and your family’s and may you live long and [prosper](67). [_Drinks from the bottle_; ALICE, _in the interim, proceeds to the closet and brings_ KNICKERBOCKER _out, who is making for the door, when, hearing some one approach, he again escapes to his retreat._ ALICE. [_At door._] Oh, aunt! aunt! here’s the burgomaster coming up the garden. DAME. Odds bodikins and pins! the burgomaster! what’s to be done now? Coming for the rent! What’s to be done now, I say? RIP. I’ll go to bed and [think](68). [_Crosses._ DAME. You sha’n’t go to bed! you must make some fresh excuse;—you’re famous at them to me;—you have got into the nobble and must get out of it as well as you can; I shall go and consult my friend, Dame Wrigrim; and Alice, should the pedlar woman come, desire her not to leave any more of her rubbish here. _As_ DAME _retires, she meets_ DERRIC(69) _to whom she curtseys._ DERRIC. Good evening, Dame. DAME. Your honour’s servant. [_Exit_ DAME. RIP. [_Aside._] La! what a stew I’m in. Alice take yourself off, ’tis full time. Wish I was off too, mit all my heart and soul. ALICE. [_Aside._] Dear, dear! what will become of my poor Knickerbocker. [_Exit._ DERRIC. Well, honest Rip, how wags the world with you? RIP. Bad enough, sir, for though [labouring](70) from morn to night, I can make no advance in de world, though my industry is proverbial, and dat’s a fact. DERRIC. Why, where the bottle is concerned, few, I believe, can boast so much industry. RIP. Dat is a fact; but I suppose you have called concerning de rent. [_Aside._] How my heart [goes and comes!](71) [_Aloud._] Now if your honour will be so [good](72) enough to— DERRIC. To write the receipt: certainly. RIP. Nine, nine! [_Aside._] I’m stewed alive mit [perspiration.](73) DERRIC. We’ll talk of the rent at a future period! There is another affair on which I wish to consult you. RIP. Take a chair, your honour.—[_Aside, rubbing his hands together._]—It’s all right, by de hookey.—[_Aloud._]—Take a glass mit me. [_They take chairs._ DERRIC. You know my only son, [whose life you preserved?](74) RIP. Yes; and a [wild](75) harum-scarum [dog](76) he is. [_Drinks._ DERRIC.