_Aim_. [_Aside_.] One of the first; I 'll lay my life. [_Aloud_.] You found the West Indies very hot, sir? _Gib_. Ay, sir, too hot for me. _Aim_. Pray, sir, han't I seen your face at Will's coffee-house? {101} _Gib_. Yes, sir, and at White's too. _Aim_. And where is your company now, captain? _Gib_. They an't come yet. _Aim_. Why, d' ye expect 'em here? _Gib_. They 'll be here to-night, sir. _Aim_. Which way do they march? _Gib_. Across the country.--[_Aside_.] The devil's in 't, if I han't said enough to encourage him to declare! But I'm afraid he's not right; I must tack about {111} _Aim_. Is your company to quarter in Lichfield? _Gib_. In this house, sir. _Aim_. What! all? _Gib_. My company's but thin, ha! ha! ha! we are but three, ha! ha! ha! _Aim_. You're merry, sir. _Gib_. Ay, sir, you must excuse me, sir; I understand the world, especially the art of travelling: I don't care, sir, for answering questions directly upon the road-- for I generally ride with a charge about me. {121} _Aim_. Three or four, I believe. [Aside. _Gib_. I am credibly informed that there are highwaymen upon this quarter; not, sir, that I could suspect a gentleman of your figure--but truly, sir, I have got such a way of evasion upon the road, that I don't care for speaking truth to any man. _Aim_. [_Aside_.] Your caution may be necessary.--[_Aloud_.] Then I presume you're no captain? {129} _Gib_. Not I, sir; captain is a good travelling name, and so I take it; it stops a great many foolish inquiries that are generally made about gentlemen that travel, it gives a man an air of something, and makes the drawers obedient:--and thus far I am a captain, and no farther. _Aim_. And pray, sir, what is your true profession? _Gib_. O sir, you must excuse me!--upon my word, sir, I don't think it safe to tell ye. _Aim_. Ha! ha! ha! upon my word I commend you. _Re-enter Boniface_. Well, Mr. Boniface, what's the news? {140} _Bon_. There's another gentleman below, as the saying is, that hearing you were but two, would be glad to make the third man, if you would give him leave. _Aim_. What is he? _Bon_. A clergyman, as the saying is. _Aim_. A clergyman! is he really a clergyman? or is it only his travelling name, as my friend the captain has it? _Bon_. O sir, he's a priest, and chaplain to the French officers in town. {150} _Aim_. Is he a Frenchman? _Bon_. Yes, sir, born at Brussels. _Gib_. A Frenchman, and a priest! I won't be seen in his company, sir; I have a value for my reputation, sir. _Aim_. Nay, but, captain, since we are by ourselves--can he speak English, landlord? _Bon_. Very well, sir; you may know him, as the saying is, to be a foreigner by his accent, and that's all. _Aim_. Then he has been in England before?