_Chignon._ Understand you!--Oui da! you talk de language universal. [_Imitating his shaking the Purse._] J'entre vois, I begin to see something--By gad, I vill give de letter, ami try de inclination of Mademoiselle la Musicienne--if dis be de duette she vill play, it take her out of the vay of Alscrip, of Gayville, and of myself also--Voila le malheur--there--de misfortune--eh bien--when love and interest come across--alway prefer de interest for to-day, and take de chance of de love to-morrow--dat is de humour of France. [_Exit._ SCENE II. _SIR CLEMENT FLINT's House._ _Enter LORD GAYVILLE and SIR CLEMENT._ _Lord G._ I am resolved to see Miss Alscrip no more. _Sir C._ And I hope you are prepared with arguments to justify the cause of this breach, to me, and to the world. _Lord G._ For my reconciliation with you, I hope your former partiality will return to my aid; and as for the world, I despise it. The multitude look at happiness through the false glare of wealth and pomp: I have discovered it, though yet at a distance, through the only true medium, that of mutual affection. _Sir C._ No common place book, formed from a whole library of plays and novels, could furnish a better sentence. Your folly would shame a school-boy--even of the last age--In the present, he learns the world with his grammar, and gets a just notion of the worthlessness of the other sex, before he is of an age to be duped by their attractions. _Lord G._ Sir, your prejudices---- _Sir C._ My prejudices?--will you appeal to Clifford--here he comes--your friend--your other self. _Enter CLIFFORD._ _Lord G._ And will Clifford condemn the choice of the heart? _Cliff._ Never, my lord, when justly placed--In the case I perceive you are arguing, I am ready to blush for you--nay, don't look grave--I am acquainted with your enchantress. _Lord G._ You acquainted with her? _Cliff._ Yes; and, if I don't deceive myself, shall make her break her own spell. I am in correspondence with her. _Lord G._ You in correspondence with Miss Alton!--when? where? What am I to think of this? _Cliff._ My dear lord, that she is the most arrant coquette, the most accomplished jilt, the most ready trafficker of her charms---- _Lord G._ Phrensy and profanation! _Sir C._ Come, Gayville, I'll be plain with you; you have sillily let the girl raise her price upon you--but, if nothing else will satisfy you, e'en pay it, and have done with her. _Lord G._ Sir, her price is an unadulterated heart: I am afraid we cannot pay it betwixt us. _Enter CHIGNON; he delivers a Letter to CLIFFORD, apart._ _Chignon._ Alerte, monsieur, I repete your word--Mademoiselle Alton be all your own. _Sir C._ Come, Clifford, the contents: his lordship braves the trial. _Lord G._ What is this mighty scheme! and what is that paper to discover?