_Mask._ That blessing would do from a Devotee: from you I ask other charities;--such charities as Beauty should bestow--soft Looks--sweet Words--and kind Wishes. _Letit._ Alas! I am bankrupt of these, and forced to turn Beggar myself.----There he is!--how shall I catch his attention? _Mask._ Will you grant me no favour? _Letit._ Yes, one--I'll make you my Partner--not for life, but through the soft mazes of a minuet.--Dare you dance? _Doric._ Some spirit in that. _Mask._ I dare do any thing you command. _Doric._ Do you know her, my Lord? _Mask._ No: Such a woman as that, would formerly have been known in any disguise; but Beauty is now common--Venus seems to have given her _Cestus_ to the whole sex. _A Minuet._ _Doric._ (_during the Minuet_) She dances divinely.--(_When ended_) Somebody must know her! Let us enquire who she is. [_Exit._ _Enter_ Saville _and_ Kitty Willis, _habited like Lady_ Frances. _Sav._ I have seen Courtall in Sir George's habit, though he endeavoured to keep himself conceal'd. Go, and seat yourself in the tea-room, and on no account discover your face:--remember too, Kitty, that the Woman you are to personate is a Woman of Virtue. _Kitty._ I am afraid I shall find that a difficult character: indeed I believe it is seldom kept up through a whole Masquerade. _Sav._ Of that _you_ can be no judge----Follow my directions, and you shall be rewarded. [_Exit_ Kitty. _Enter_ Doricourt. _Dor._ Ha! Saville! Did you see a Lady dance just now? _Sav._ No. _Dor._ Very odd. No body knows her. _Sav._ Where is Miss Hardy? _Dor._ Cutting Watch-papers, and making Conundrums, I suppose. _Sav._ What do you mean? _Dor._ Faith, I hardly know. She's not here, however, Mrs. Racket tells me.--I ask'd no further. _Sav._ Your indifference seems increas'd. _Dor._ Quite the reverse; 'tis advanced thirty-two degrees towards hatred. _Sav._ You are jesting? _Dor._ Then it must be with a very ill grace, my dear Saville; for I never felt so seriously: Do you know the creature's almost an Ideot? _Sav._ What! _Dor._ An Ideot. What the devil shall I do with her? Egad! I think I'll feign myself mad--and then Hardy will propose to cancel the engagements. _Sav._ An excellent expedient. I must leave you; you are mysterious, and I can't stay to unravel ye.--I came here to watch over Innocence and Beauty. _Dor._ The Guardian of Innocence and Beauty at three and twenty! Is there not a cloven foot under that black gown, Saville? _Sav._ No, faith. Courtall is here on a most detestable design.--I found means to get a knowledge of the Lady's dress, and have brought a girl to personate her, whose reputation cannot be hurt.--You shall know the result to-morrow. Adieu. [_Exit_ Saville. _Dor._ (_musing_) Yes, I think that will do.--I'll feign myself mad, see the Doctor to pronounce me incurable, and when the parchments are destroyed---- [_As he stands in a musing posture_, Letitia _enters, and sings_.]