_Miss Alton._ Is that Mr. Alscrip's voice, Mr. Chignon? It's awkward for me to meet him before I'm introduced. _Chignon._ Keep a little behind, mademoiselle; he vill only pashe de room--He vill not see through me. _Enter ALSCRIP._ _Alscrip._ Hah, my daughter gone already, but [_Sees CHIGNON._] there's a new specimen of foreign vermin--A lady's valet de chambre--Taste for ever!--Now if I was to give the charge of my person to a waiting maid, they'd say I was indelicate. [_As he crosses the Stage, CHIGNON keeps sideling to intercept his Sight, and bowing as he looks towards him._] What the devil is mounseer at? I thought all his agility lay in his fingers: what antics is the monkey practising? He twists and doubles himself as if he had a raree-show at his back. _Chignon._ [_Aside._] Be gar no raree-show for you, monsieur Alscrip, if I can help. _Alscrip._ [_Spying MISS ALTON._] Ah! ah! What have we got there? Monsieur, who is that? _Chignon._ Sir, my lady wish to speak to you in her boudoir. She sent me to conduct you, sir. _Alscrip._ [_Imitating._] Yes, sir, but I will first conduct myself to this lady--Tell me this minute, who she is? _Chignon._ Sir, she come to live here, companion to my lady--Mademoiselle study some musique--she must not be disturbed. _Alscrip._ Get about your business, monsieur, or I'll disturb every comb in your head--Go tell my daughter to stay till I come to her. I shall give her companion some cautions against saucy Frenchmen, sirrah! _Chignon._ [_Aside._] Cautions! peste! you are subject a' cautions yourself--I suspecte you to be von old rake, but no ver dangerous rival. [_Exit._ _Alscrip._ [_To himself, and looking at her with his Glass._] The devil is never tired of throwing baits in my way. [_She comes forward modestly._] By all that's delicious! I must be better acquainted with her. [_He bows. She courtesies, the Music Book still in her Hand._] But how to begin--My usual way of attacking my daughter's maids will never do. _Miss Alton._ [_Aside._] My situation is very embarrassing. _Alscrip._ Beauteous stranger, give me leave to add my welcome to my daughter's. Since Alscrip House was established, she never brought any thing into it to please me before. _Miss Alton._ [_A little confused._] Sir, it is a great additional honour to that Miss Alscrip has done me, to be thought worthy so respectable a protection as yours. _Alscrip._ I could furnish you with a better word than respectable. It sounds so distant, and my feelings have so little to do with cold respect--I never had such a desire--to make myself agreeable. _Miss Alton._ [_Aside._] A very strange old man. [_To him, more confused._] Sir, you'll pardon me, I believe Miss Alscrip is waiting.