_Mr. R._ Madam, I dare not conceal--I heard--Mr. Drave is suddenly taken ill. _Mrs. D._ Merciful Heaven! Frederick, our cloaks. [Exit Servant. _Mr. R._ Can you bear to look at me? _Mrs. D._ Come, come, we'll go to him--come, Augusta. [Servant brings cloaks]. _Mr. R._ [whilst Mrs. D. takes her cloak]. But, Madam, it will affect him too much to see you thus. _Mrs. D._ [not attending to him, and going, followed by Augusta and Rose]. _Old Man._ You leave me? Who will have pity on me? who will---- _Mrs. D._ Stay, Augusta, make him comfortable.--Frederick, put him out of the way. _Servant._ Where, Madam? _Mrs. D._ I don't know--any where. _Servant._ I'll take him to my mother's. _Mrs. D._ Well, well.--[Old Man led off by Augusta and Frederick--Mrs. Drave and Rose going off on the opposite side]. _Old Man_ [as he is going]. You leave me; you will betray me; I have nothing except these grey hairs. [As Mrs. Drave and Rose are going out at the door, they meet the Chancellor's Clerk.) _Clerk._ Stop; where are you going? _Mr. R._ Where an honest man is sacrificed by villains. _Clerk._ A few words, Madam, if you please. _Mrs. D._ Let me go, Sir! do not rob my suffering husband of his only comfort--let me go. _Clerk._ You must stop, Madam. _Mr. R._ By what authority do you dare act thus? _Clerk._ Do you know me? _Mr. R._ Too well, too well. _Clerk._ Then you should know that when I order, it is your part to submit in silence. _Mr. R._ You shall not drive her to despair. _Clerk._ Pray, who are you? _Mr. R._ One who has been made a beggar by thee and thy master, thou knave; a formidable beggar. _Clerk._ Are you mad? _Mr. R._ So well in my senses, that I should apprehend being confined under pretence of madness, if I were still rich enough. _Clerk._ Beware, Sir, how you speak! _Mr. R._ Do thou beware of thy life. _Clerk._ That is going too far. _Mr. R._ Have I not weapons? cannot I fell thee to the earth with this stick, thou prime agent of villainy? _Clerk._ I pity you: but remember, I have persons with me, and full power to check all resistance; therefore take my advice, and go. _Mr. R._ I will go--but, thou fellow! yes, I wilt go, and if I can only see Philip---- [Exit. _Mrs. D._ Oh, Sir! if ever you loved--if ever you trembled for an unfortunate wife, for a brother, or for a child--then feel my affliction; be softened, and let me go to my husband. _Clerk._ Madam, I have orders to examine you, touching a certain point. The means of discovering truth I have at hand. Sincerity and submission, will be your best choice. _Mrs. D._ What must I tell? quickly--I beg. _Clerk._ If you satisfy me entirely, I promise you shall see Mr. Drave. _Mrs. D._ But your questions? _Clerk._ You shall be allowed to remain with him, if you desire it. _Mrs. D._ Were he in the grave I should desire it. Quick--your questions. _Clerk._ Well--who is here in the house? _Mrs. D._ Here? _Clerk._ A stranger.