Pshaw! stuff!--I have no head to examine your dirty distinctions--Don't teize me with your jargon.--I have told you the sums I shall want, so take care they are ready at your returning from Kingston.--Nay, don't hesitate; recollect your own state of the case, and remember, my honour is in pawn, and must, some way or other, be redeem'd by the end of the week. [_Exit._ SERJEANT _solus_. My honour is in pawn!--Good Lord! how a century will alter the meaning of words!--Formerly, _chastity_ was the honour of women, and _good faith_ and _integrity_ the honour of men: but _now_, a lady who ruins her family by punctually paying her losses at play, and a gentleman who kills his best friend in some trifling frivolous quarrel, are your only tip-top people of _honour_. Well, let them go on, it brings grist to our mill: for whilst both the sexes stick firm to their _honour_, we shall never want business, either at Doctor's Commons, or the Old Bailey. [_Exit._ ACT II. _Enter_ SERJEANT CIRCUIT _and_ JACK. SERJEANT. Jack, let Will bring the chaise to the door. JACK. Mr. Fairplay, Sir, the attorney, begs to speak a few words. SERJEANT. How often have I told you, that I will see none of these sort of folks but at chambers; you know how angry your mother is at their rapping, and littering the house. JACK. He says, Sir, he will not detain you five minutes. SERJEANT. Well, bid him walk in. _Enter_ FAIRPLAY. Well, Mr. Fairplay, what's your will? FAIRPLAY. I just call'd, Mr. Serjeant, to know your opinion upon the case of young Woodford, and if you like the proposal of being concern'd. SERJEANT. If it turns out as you state it, and that the father of the lad was really a minor, the Essex estate may without doubt be recover'd; and so may the lands in the North. FAIRPLAY. We have full proofs to that fact. SERJEANT. May be so; but really Mr. Fairplay, you know the length of time that these kind of suits-- FAIRPLAY. True Sir, but then your experience will shorten I appreh---- SERJEANT. That's more than I know: and then not only my fees lying dormant, but, perhaps, an expectation of money advanc'd. FAIRPLAY. The property, Sir, is of very great value, and, upon the recovery, any acknowledgment shall be readily made. SERJEANT. There again, _any_! do you know that in law, that word _any_ has no meaning at all? besides, when people are in distress, they are lavish enough of their offers; but when their business is done, then we have nothing but grumbling and grudging. FAIRPLAY. You have only to dictate your terms. SERJEANT. Does the lad live in town? FAIRPLAY. He has been under my care since the death of his father; I have given him as good an education as my narrow fortune would let me; he is now studying the law in the Temple, in hopes that should he fail of other assistance, he may be able one day to do _himself_ justice. SERJEANT. In the Temple? FAIRPLAY.