_Mr. R._ You knew me once as a rich, as a wealthy man. _Mr. D._ Yes. _Mr. R._ I am so no longer. _Mr. D._ Impossible! _Mr. R._ By a bankruptcy in Amsterdam, I am entirely ruined. _Mr. D._ Can I assist, support you, dear Rose? I am at your service. _Mr. R._ Merciful heaven! can you forget-- _Mr. D._ What? _Mr. R._ Your ward's property. _Mr. D._ Almighty God! _Mr. R._ Unhappy man! you gave security. _Mr. D._ Oh my family, my child!' _Mr. R._ Can you forgive me? _Mr. D._ [lost in thought]. Insulted first; then reduced to beggary. _Mr. R._ I have been seeking in vain for you, and for Brook: now the seals are put on every thing, and I have undone my best friend. _Mr. D._ [as before]. The trial is hard.--Oh heaven! from wealth to poverty, in a single day! [Rose sits down, quite dejected]. _Mr. D._ [with emotion]. God's will be done! _Mr. R._ [rises hastily and takes Drave's hand]. Hard is your fate; yet God knows, mine is still more so. I am reduced to nothing. _Mr. D._ [softly]. I also shall have little remaining. _Mr. R._ My helpless children! _Mr. D._ And my poor daughter! _Mr. R._ Here our fate is the same. Yet you are only unfortunate; and I--shall be regarded as a villain. You are a sufferer, and I the cause: I cannot bear this thought. Hear me--Brook is still rich.--The preservation of a worthy family, is a duty, and will excuse it--Let us deny the security----you can then pay him half, and he may lose the rest. _Mr. D._ No! _Mr. R._ Do it while there is yet time.--I will bear my lot in patience; but let not the thought of having ruined you imbitter my wretched existence. Do it. _Mr. D._ Never! _Mr. R._ For God's sake, do it. The Chancellor is your enemy; I know it too well: this makes him now so busy about my affairs. _Mr. D._ I will not, cannot.--Have I risked my ward's property too inconsiderately, I must bear the consequences. _Mr. R._ Who can blame you? Where was there a safer house than mine? _Mr. D._ They can seize all my fortune, and undoubtedly will; I hope it is sufficient. _Mr. R._ You cannot avoid blaming me. _Mr. D._ Do not be uneasy on my account. I have still strength and activity. I may prosper again: if not, God will support my wife and daughter, and in the grave at least I shall find repose. _Mr. R._ I look at you with awful repentance. Father in heaven, I thank thee for this man!--I sought comfort from my friends, and met reproaches--I fled to my daughter--Oh, my daughter! _Mr. D._ Go to her now; she will cheer the remainder of your days. _Mr. R._ No, no, never! _Mr. D._ Why not? _Mr. R._ I went to her.--She was my darling--a kind look from her was my greatest delight--I gave her a large portion. I came from the Chancellor's--my agitation--my anxiety--I was overheated.--I threw myself into her arms--Nancy, said I, give me something to drink--I sought for consolation from her, and she----she upbraided me for my careless management. _Mr. D._ Horror!