_Philip._ Good morning to you, Madam [bows to Augusta.] Pray, is Mr. Drave at home? [To the Counsellor] Good morning, Sir. _Mrs. D._ No, Sir, he is just gone out. [They converse together. The Counsellor talks to Augusta]. _Counsellor._ Miss Drave, we will have some sport. _Augusta._ How so? _Counsellor._ We'll make him look quite silly, by pretending to compliment him. _Augusta._ I must decline taking any part, Sir. _Counsellor_ [to Philip]. Mr. Brook, I have the honour to pay you my best compliments. _Philip_ [turning quickly towards him]. On what account? _Counsellor._ What account? Why--why--on having the happiness to see you. _Philip._ Then, you must pay them to yourself. _Counsellor._ But, as I have the honour to be upon terms of strict friendship with your---- _Philip._ Strict! _Counsellor._ Very strict. _Philip._ This is the first time I have heard of my brother's strictness. _Counsellor._ But, Mr. Brook, you are seldom to be seen; why is this? _Philip._ That I may not be seen too often. _Counsellor._ But, you lock yourself up like a hermit; 'tis quite inconsistent with your age and station in life. _Philip._ You think so? _Counsellor._ It does not require much thinking, it is self-evident. _Philip._ Indeed? _Counsellor._ For instance--you live quite secluded from your friends. _Philip_ [stepping back]. I distinguish between friends and acquaintance. _Counsellor._ And you neglect the favour and protection of the great. _Philip._ Do not flatter me to my face. _Counsellor._ With your fortune, I wonder you do not buy an office and title. _Philip._ Because----but your question answers itself. _Counsellor._ How so? _Philip._ Because they are to be bought. _Counsellor_ [with an affected laugh].--A fine reason; an excellent one, indeed! Plain Mr. Brook! it sounds very well [laughing]. Don't you think so, ladies? plain Mr. Brook! _Philip._ Yet, in one respect I find that a bought office may be very useful. _Counsellor_ [laughing]. See, ladies, he yields--he submits. _Philip._ A bought office may be of use to a fool, who has no other means of recommending himself. _Counsellor_ [at a loss]. That is indeed true, very true---- _Philip._ And a title--you will certainly agree--is often an excellent protection for a knave. Excuse me, Sir!----This dry conversation-- [Going. _Counsellor_ [detaining him]. Bravo, bravo, Mr. Ecclesiasticus! _Philip._ Are you acquainted with his book? _Counsellor._ Certainly. _Philip._ And read it? _Counsellor._ Oh, often, very often [laughing]; and I fancy I hear him now. _Philip._ Yet, you have forgotten one of his best sayings. _Counsellor._ Which? _Philip._ A wife man smiles--a fool, a fool, Mr. Counsellor, laughs aloud. [Exit. _Counsellor._ It is a pity he is gone; the best part of the jest was to come. _Mrs. D._ But the laugh was not entirely on your side.