Your absence, Sir, would please me. _Stu._ I'll not offend you, madam. [_Exit with Lucy._ _Mrs. Bev._ Why opens not the earth to swallow such a monster? Be conscience then his punisher, till heaven in mercy gives him penitence, or dooms him in its justice. SCENE IX. _Re-enter LUCY._ Come to my chamber, Lucy; I have a tale to tell thee, shall make thee weep for thy poor mistress. Yet heav'n the guiltless sufferer regards, And whom it most afflicts, it most rewards. [_Exeunt._ ACT IV. SCENE, __BEVERLEY'S_ lodgings._ _Enter Mrs. BEVERLEY, CHARLOTTE, and LEWSON._ _Charlotte._ The smooth-tongued hypocrite! _Lew._ But we have found him, and will requite him. Be chearful, madam; (_To Mrs. Beverley_) and for the insults of this ruffian, you shall have ample retribution. _Mrs. Bev._ But not by violence--Remember you have sworn it: I had been silent else. _Lew._ You need not doubt me; I shall be cool as patience. _Mrs. Bev._ See him to-morrow then. _Lew._ And why not now? By heaven, the veriest worm that crawls is made of braver spirit than this Stukely. Yet for my promise, I'll deal gently with him. I mean to watch his looks: from those, and from his answers to my charge, much may be learnt. Next I'll to Bates, and sift him to the bottom. If I fail there, the gang is numerous, and for a bribe will each betray the other. Good night; I'll lose no time. [_Exit._ _Mrs. Bev._ These boisterous spirits! how they wound me! But reasoning is in vain. Come, Charlotte; we'll to our usual watch. The night grows late. _Char._ I am fearful of events; yet pleased--To-morrow may relieve us. [_Going._ SCENE II. _Enter JARVIS._ _Char._ How now, good Jarvis? _Jar._ I have heard ill news, madam. _Mrs. Bev._ What news? Speak quickly. _Jar._ Men are not what they seem. I fear me, Mr. Stukely is dishonest. _Char._ We know it, Jarvis. But what's your news? _Jar._ That there's an action against my master, at his friend's suit. _Mrs. Bev._ O, villain! villain! 'twas this he threatened then. Run to that den of robbers, Wilson's--Your master may be there. Entreat him home, good Jarvis. Say I have business with him--But tell him not of Stukely--It may provoke him to revenge--Haste! haste! good Jarvis. [_Exit Jarvis._ _Char._ This minister of hell! O, I could tear him piece-meal! _Mrs. Bev._ I am sick of such a world. Yet heaven is just; and in its own good time, will hurl destruction on such monsters. [_Exeunt._ SCENE III. _changes to _STUKELY'S_ lodgings._ _Enter STUKELY, and BATES, meeting_. _Bates._ Where have you been? _Stu._ Fooling my time away: playing my tricks, like a tame monkey, to entertain a woman--No matter where-- I have been vext and disappointed. Tell me of Beverley. How bore he his last shock?