_Charles._ I am resolved to have another interview with her;--to throw myself at her feet, and sue for pardon! Though fate should oppose our union, I may still preserve her from the arms of a villain, who is capable of deceiving the innocent he could not seduce: and of planting a dagger in the female heart, where nature has bestowed her softest attributes, and has only left it _weak_, that man might cherish, shelter, and protect it. [_Exit._ _Pon._ So! now I'm a rogue both ways--If I escape punishment one way, I shall certainly meet it the other. But if my good luck saves me both ways I shall never more credit a fortune-teller: for one once predicted, that I was born to be hanged. [_Exit._ SCENE II.--_Sir Rowland's._ _Enter_ Sir Rowland _and_ O'Dedimus. _Sir R._ You have betrayed me then!--Did not I caution you to keep secret from my nephew this accursed loss. _O'Ded._ And so you did sure enough, but somehow it slipt out before I said a word about it; but I told him it was a secret, and I dare say he wont mention it. _Sir R._ But you say, that he demands the immediate liquidation. _O'Ded._ Ay, sir, and has given me orders to proceed against you. _Sir R._ Is it possible! in a moment could I arrest his impious progress; but I will probe him to the quick, did he threaten me, say you?--There is however one way to save _him_ from this public avowal of his baseness, and _me_ from his intended persecution--a marriage between Charles and Mrs. Richland. _O'Ded._ The widow's as rich as the Wicklow mines! _Sir R._ The boy refuses to comply with my wishes; we may find means, however, to compel him. _O'Ded._ He's a sailor; and gentlemen of his kidney are generally pretty tough when they take a notion in their heads. _Sir R._ I am resolved to carry my point. I have reason to believe you advanced him a sum of money. _O'Ded._ I did that thing--he's a brave fellow; I'd do that thing again. _Sir R._ You did wrong, sir, to encourage a young spendthrift in disobedience to his father. _O'Ded._ I did right, sir, to assist the son of a client and the nephew of a benefactor, especially when his father hadn't the civility to do it. _Sir R._ Mr. O'Dedimus, you grow impertinent. _O'Ded._ Sir Rowland, I grow old; and 'tis one privilege of age to grow blunt. I advanced your son a sum of money, because I esteemed him. I tack'd no usurious obligation to the bond he gave me, and I never came to ask you for security. _Sir R._ You _have_ his bond then-- _O'Ded._ I have, sir; his bond and judgment for two hundred pounds. _Sir R._ It is enough: then you can indeed assist my views,--the dread of confinement will, no doubt, alter his resolution: you must enter up judgment, and proceed on your bond. _O'Ded._ If I proceed upon my bond, it will be very much against my judgment. _Sir R._ In order to alarm him, you must arrest him immediately.