_Lew._ It must be so; we live but for each other. Keep what you know a secret; and when we meet to-morrow, more may be known. Farewell. [_Exit._ _Char._ My poor, poor sister! how would this wound her! But I'll conceal it, and speak comfort to her. _Exit_. SCENE V. _changes to a room in the gaming-house._ _Enter BEVERLEY, and STUKELY._ _Bev._ Whither would you lead me? [_Angrily._ _Stu._ Where we may vent our curses. _Bev._ Ay, on yourself, and those damned counsels that have destroyed me. A thousand fiends were in that bosom, and all let loose to tempt me--I had resisted else. _Stu._ Go on, Sir. I have deserved this from you. _Bev._ And curses everlasting. Time is too scanty for them. _Stu._ What have I done? _Bev._ What the arch-devil of old did--soothed with false hopes, for certain ruin. _Stu._ Myself unhurt; nay, pleased at your destruction--So your words mean. Why, tell it to the world: I am too poor to find a friend in't. _Bev._ A friend! What's he? I had a friend. _Stu._ And have one still. _Bev._ Ay; I'll tell you of this friend. He found me happiest of the happy; fortune and honour crowned me; and love and peace lived in my heart. One spark of folly lurked there; That too he found; and by deceitful breath, blew it to flames that have consumed me. This friend were You to Me. _Stu._ A little more perhaps--The friend who gave his all to save you; and not succeeding, chose ruin with you. But no matter--I have undone you, and am a villain. _Bev._ No; I think not. The villains are within. _Stu._ What villains? _Bev._ Dawson and the rest--We have been dupes to sharpers. _Stu._ How know you this? I have had doubts, as well as You; yet still as fortune changed, I blushed at my own thoughts. But You have proofs, perhaps? _Bev._ Ay, damned ones. Repeated losses: night after night, and no reverse. Chance has no hand in this. _Stu._ I think more charitably; yet I am peevish in my nature, and apt to doubt. The world speaks fairly of this Dawson; so does it of the rest. We have watched them closely too. But 'tis a right usurped by losers, to think the winners knaves. We'll have more manhood in us. _Bev._ I know not what to think. This night has stung me to the quick--blasted my reputation too. I have bound my honour to these vipers; played meanly upon credit, till I tired them; and now they shun me, to rifle one another. What's to be done? _Stu._ Nothing. My counsels have been fatal. _Bev._ By heaven! I'll not survive this shame--Traitor! 'tis You have brought it on me. (_Taking hold of him._) Shew me the means to save me, or I'll commit a murder here, and next upon myself. _Stu._ Why, do it then, and rid me of ingratitude. _Bev._ Prithee, forgive this language--I speak I know not what. Rage and despair are in my heart, and hurry me to madness. My home is horror to me--I'll not return to't. Speak quickly; tell me, if in this wreck of fortune, one hope remains? Name it, and be my oracle.