_Miss Als._ Was there ever any thing like this before?--and to a woman of my fortune?--I to be robbed of a lover--and that a poor lord too--I'll have the act revived against witchcraft; I'll have the minx tried--I'll--I'll--I'll---- [_Exit._ SCENE III. _ALSCRIP's Room of Business._ _ALSCRIP and RIGHTLY._ _Rightly._ Upon all these matters, Mr. Alscrip, I am authorized by my client, Sir Clement Flint, to agree. There remains nothing but your favouring me with the inspection of the Charlton title-deeds, and your daughter's settlements may be engrossed. _Alscrip._ I cannot conceive, my friend Rightly, any such inspection to be requisite. Have not I been in constant quiet possession? _Rightly._ Sir Clement insists upon it. _Alscrip._ A client insist! and you, an old practitioner, suffer such a demur to your infallibility!--Ah! in my practice I had the sure means of disappointing such dabblers and divers into their own cases. _Rightly._ How, pray? _Alscrip._ I read his writings to him myself.--I was the best reader in Chancery-lane for setting the understanding at defiance--Drew breath but once in a quarter of an hour, always in the wrong place, and made a single sentence of six skins of parchment--Shall I give you a specimen? _Rightly._ [_Smiling._] I have no doubt of your talent. _Alscrip._ Then return to Sir Clement, and follow my example. _Rightly._ No, Mr. Alscrip, though I acknowledge your skill, I do not subscribe to your doctrine. The English law is the finest system of ethics, as well as government, that ever the world produced, and it cannot be too generally understood. _Alscrip._ Law understood! Zounds! would you destroy the profession! _Rightly._ No, I would raise it. Had every man of sense the knowledge of the theory, to which he is competent; the practice would revert to the purity of its institution, maintain the rights, and not promote the knavery, of mankind. _Alscrip._ [_Aside._] Plaguy odd maxims.--Sure he means to try me--[_To him._] Brother Rightly, we know the world and are alone--I have locked the door. [_In a half whisper._ _Rightly._ A very useless precaution. I have not a principle nor a proceeding that I would not proclaim at Charing Cross. _Alscrip._ [_Aside._] No! then I'll pronounce you the most silly, or the most impudent fellow of the fraternity. _Rightly._ But where are these writings? You can have no difficulty in laying your hand upon them, for I perceive you keep things in a distinguished regularity. _Alscrip._ Yes, I have distinct repositories for all papers, and especially title deeds--Some in drawers--Some in closets--[_Aside._] and a few under ground. _Miss Als._ [_Rattling at the Door._] What makes you lock the door, sir? I must speak to you this instant. _Alscrip._ One moment, child, and I'll be ready for you.