_Chancellor._ Only for form sake--you just sign a little paper--a mere form, I assure you. You are too good-natured--give so easily away--must not be.--Come, we will go to my room, and examine your affairs more closely. [Exeunt. SCENE II. Apartment in Drave's House. Mr. DRAVE writing.--Mrs. DRAVE enters. _Mrs. D._ Good morning, my dear--you have not come down. _Mr. D._ [gives her his hand, without looking up]. Good morning. _Mrs. D._ You are busy. _Mr. D._ I shall have done in a moment. _Mrs. D._ I'll leave you. _Mr. D._ [rising]. It is done now. _Mrs. D._ You seem angry. _Mr. D._ No wonder--that man---- _Mrs. D._ Who? _Mr. D._ My hopeful ward Lewis--as I am not always ready to pay his debts, he sets the Chancellor upon me. _Mrs. D._ Again? Very strange. _Mr. D._ I am continually pestered with applications for the payment. _Mrs. D._ And you---- _Mr. D._ With all due respect for these applications, I'll not pay. _Mrs. D._ Very well: but---- _Mr. D._ And now this Chancellor sends me a letter, desiring me to bring him my accounts, as guardian to Lewis this afternoon that he may overlook them. I'll not do it. [Takes a letter off the table, and gives it to Mrs. Drave--walks angrily up and down while she reads it--takes it back]. What do you think of it? _Mrs. D._ It is unpleasant--but why send a positive refusal? _Mr. D._ And why not? _Mrs. D._ The Chancellor is a very powerful man. _Mr. D._ I do not fear him. _Mrs. D._ He takes every opportunity to injure us; his hatred is implacable. What can you oppose to his base intrigues? _Mr. D._ My heart, and plain dealing. _Mrs. D._ Do not offend him so sensibly: rather send the accounts. _Mr. D._ Never! The very sum he now troubles me for is to pay himself. He lent it to Lewis, through a third person, upon exorbitant interest. _Mrs. D._ Base enough. But, I repeat it, he is powerful, and will revenge himself. [Mr. D. seals the letter, rings the bell.--Enter a Servant.] _Mrs. D._ You will have it so. I wish all may be well. _Mr. D._ [giving the letter to the Servant]. To the Chancellor's. [Exit Servant. _Mrs. D._ Had you only done it in a better manner--You may remember 'twas for your rashness he withdrew the L.4000. _Mr. D._ For my rashness? Oh, no.--To place it out at higher interest somewhere else.--At such an unseasonable time too--there again--thus to undermine good houses, that he may have full scope for his unfair practices. _Mrs. D._ It may be so--But in regard to Lewis--I wish your behaviour were different: it may have such unpleasant consequences--for I must inform you, he seems to have an attachment to Augusta. _Mr. D._ [surprised]. So?--and Augusta? _Mrs. D._ She loves him. _Mr. D._ Merciful God! _Mrs. D._ What is it you mean?