_Bev._ I don't say you could, oaf! I am not questioning you, but him. What did he say to you? _Tom._ Why, sir, when I came to his chambers, to be dressed for the lawyer's part your honour was pleased to put me upon, he asked me if I had been at Mr. Sealand's this morning? So I told him, sir, I often went thither--because, sir, if I had not said that he might have thought there was something more in my going now than at another time. _Bev._ Very well!--The fellow's caution, I find, has given him this jealousy. [_Aside._]--Did he ask you no other questions? _Tom._ Yes, sir; now I remember, as we came away in the hackney coach from Mr. Sealand's, Tom, says he, as I came in to your master this morning, he bade you go for an answer to a letter he had sent. Pray did you bring him any? says he. Ah! says I, sir, your honour is pleased to joke with me; you have a mind to know whether I can keep a secret or no? _Bev._ And so, by showing him you could, you told him you had one? _Tom._ Sir----[_Confused._ _Bev._ What mean actions does jealousy make a man stoop to! How poorly has he used art with a servant to make him betray his master!--Well! and when did he give you this letter for me? _Tom._ Sir, he writ it before he pulled off his lawyer's gown, at his own chambers. _Bev._ Very well; and what did he say when you brought him my answer to it? _Tom._ He looked a little out of humour, sir, and said it was very well. _Bev._ I knew he would be grave upon't; wait without. _Tom._ Hum! 'gad, I don't like this; I am afraid we are all in the wrong box here. [_Exit_ TOM. _Bev._ I put on a serenity while my fellow was present; but I have never been more thoroughly disturbed. This hot man! to write me a challenge, on supposed artificial dealing, when I professed myself his friend! I can live contented without glory; but I cannot suffer shame. What's to be done? But first let me consider Lucinda's letter again. [_Reads._ "SIR, "I hope it is consistent with the laws a woman ought to impose upon herself, to acknowledge that your manner of declining a treaty of marriage in our family, and desiring the refusal may come from me, has something more engaging in it than the courtship of him who, I fear, will fall to my lot, except your friend exerts himself for our common safety and happiness. I have reasons for desiring Mr. Myrtle may not know of this letter till hereafter, and am your most obliged humble servant, "LUCINDA SEALAND." Well, but the postscript--[_Reads._ "I won't, upon second thoughts, hide anything from you. But my reason for concealing this is, that Mr. Myrtle has a jealousy in his temper which gives me some terrors; but my esteem for him inclines me to hope that only an ill effect which sometimes accompanies a tender love, and what may be cured by a careful and unblameable conduct."