_Sev._ Tell them they shall forfeit; the thunderer shall pay two groats; they--they shall be fined a day's pay. [_Exit_ SERVANT.]--My dear friend, while the company is assembling in the several apartments, I will explain further: You are to know that old master Pincers is a rich northern attorney, who understands the law much better as it is the business of it to punish offenders, than as it is to protect the innocent. The young girl is a ward left under his care, and has a very considerable estate in that country. He has brought her up to town to settle her. _Hum._ In the playhouse? _Sev._ Pray, hear. In the playhouse? no. Of all things in nature, stage-plays (as he calls them) are his aversion. But they are no less Miss Dolly's delight. As I had my education, that is to say, ate and drank, conversed and lay some years every night at Gray's Inn, I made a notable pleader before our bench of justices in Cumberland, and grew very intimate with Mr. Pincers. He took such a fancy to my promising parts--for, you must know, I pretended to be a rogue to gain his good-will--that, with a hint of five hundred pounds reward for my share in the transaction, he communicated to me a design of disposing of this young lady by way of sale. _Hum._ Good--and thought you a proper broker to find out a husband, or rather a purchaser. _Sev._ Right. "Mr. Severn," said he, "you know there is nothing more common than to observe that orphans are a prey, by reason of their great wealth, and marry unhappily." _Hum._ And therefore---- _Sev._ And therefore he would have a receipt for _all_ her fortune, for delivering _half_ of it to the man who should marry her--"which," said he, "shall be no fraud to the gentleman; for he shall settle only an equivalent for ten thousand pounds, which is the moiety. By this means," continued my conscientious friend, "I shall observe how he behaves to this poor girl; and can, if he deserves it, leave the other moiety to them by my will." _Hum._ And what did you say to this hopeful project? _Sev._ I fell in with it, and promised to find him a right young fellow for his purpose. _Hum._ Did you so, sir? [_As going._] _Sev._ Now you grow a mere scholar again. _Hum._ An honest gentleman is a mere scholar where a sharper is a wit--I will leave your accursed town to-night. _Sev._ I will convince you that there is nothing mean or dishonourable on my part; but a lucky incident I should be stupid not to take hold of. _Hum._ Say it; but your prologue is so long, you seem to know that the plot of your play is not easily to be defended. _Sev._ You cannot say that till you know it. I agreed with him to find a young gentleman suitable to her, who shall bring as good an estate as she shall, and settle all upon her and the children of the marriage. _Hum._ Well--who is the gentleman whom you have thought of to do this? On whom will you bestow the poor innocent girl who has never injured you?