_Sir Luke._ [_Going to him._] My Lord, I was saying, as proof that our great Sultan, who now fills this throne, is no impostor, (as the rebel party wou'd insinuate) no low-born man, but of the Royal Stock; his conduct palpably evinces--for, had he not been nobly born, we shou'd have beheld the Plebeian bursting forth upon all occasions [_Looking at Lady_ Tremor] and then, Heaven help all those who had had any dealings with him! _Lady._ Provoking! [_Goes up the stage._ _Lord._ Sir Luke, is there a doubt of the Emperor's birth and title? he is the real Sultan, depend upon it--it surprises me to hear you talk with the smallest uncertainty. _Twi._ O, Sir Luke, I wonder at it too, [_Aside to Lord_ Flint.] and yet, damn me, my Lord, if I have not my doubts. [_Lord_ Flint _starts_. _Sir Luke. I_, my Lord? far be it from me! I was only saying what other people said; for my part _I_ never harboured a doubt of the kind.--[_Aside._] My head begins to nod, only for that word--pray Heaven, I may die with it on!--I shou'd not like to lose my head--nor shou'd I like to die by a bullet--nor by a small sword--and a cannon ball wou'd be as disagreeable, as any thing, I know--it is very odd--but I never yet could make up my mind, in what manner I shou'd like to go out of the world. [_During this speech._ Twineall _is paying court to Lord_ Flint; _they come forward and Sir_ Luke _retires_. _Lord._ Your temerity astonishes me! _Twi._ I must own, my Lord, I feel somewhat aukward in saying it to your Lordship--but my own heart--my own conscience--my own sentiments--they _are_ my own--and they are dear to me.--And so it is--the Sultan does not appear to be [_With significance._] that great man some people think him. _Lord._ Sir, you astonish me--pray what is your name? I have forgotten it. _Twi._ Twineall, my Lord--the honourable Henry Twineall--your Lordship does me great honour to ask--arrived this morning from England, as your Lordship may remember--in the ship Mercury, my Lord--and all the officers on board speaking with the highest admiration and warmest terms of your Lordship's official character. _Lord._ Why, then, Mr. Twineall, I am very sorry-- _Twi._ And so am I, my Lord, that your sentiments and mine shou'd so far disagree, as I _know_ they do.--I am not unacquainted with your firm adherence to the Emperor--but I am unused to disguise my thoughts--I cou'd not, if I wou'd--I have no little views--no sinister motives--no plots--no intrigues--no schemes of preferment,--and I verily believe that if a large scymitar was now directed at my head--or a large pension directed to my pocket--(in the first case at least) I shou'd speak my mind. _Lord._ [_Aside._] A dangerous young man this! and I may make something of the discovery.