Sir ANTHONY Zounds! say no more, I tell you--Mrs. Malaprop shall make your peace. You must make his peace, Mrs. Malaprop:--you must tell her 'tis Jack's way--tell her 'tis all our ways--it runs in the blood of our family! Come away, Jack--Ha! ha! ha!--Mrs. Malaprop--a young villain! [Pushing him out.] Mrs. MALAPROP O! Sir Anthony!--O fy, captain! [Exeunt severally.] * * * * * * * Scene III--The North Parade. [Enter Sir LUCIUS O'TRIGGER.] Sir LUCIUS I wonder where this Captain Absolute hides himself! Upon my conscience! these officers are always in one's way in love affairs:--I remember I might have married Lady Dorothy Carmine, if it had not been for a little rogue of a major, who ran away with her before she could get a sight of me! And I wonder too what it is the ladies can see in them to be so fond of them--unless it be a touch of the old serpent in 'em, that makes the little creatures be caught, like vipers, with a bit of red cloth. Ha! isn't this the captain coming?--faith it is!--There is a probability of succeeding about that fellow, that is mighty provoking! Who the devil is he talking to? [Steps aside.] [Enter CAPTAIN ABSOLUTE.] ABSOLUTE [Aside.] To what fine purpose I have been plotting! a noble reward for all my schemes, upon my soul!--a little gipsy!--I did not think her romance could have made her so damned absurd either. 'Sdeath, I never was in a worse humour in my life!--I could cut my own throat, or any other person's, with the greatest pleasure in the world! Sir LUCIUS Oh, faith! I'm in the luck of it. I never could have found him in a sweeter temper for my purpose--to be sure I'm just come in the nick! Now to enter into conversation with him, and so quarrel genteelly.--[Goes up to CAPTAIN ABSOLUTE.] With regard to that matter, captain, I must beg leave to differ in opinion with you. ABSOLUTE Upon my word, then, you must be a very subtle disputant:--because, sir, I happened just then to be giving no opinion at all. Sir LUCIUS That's no reason. For give me leave to tell you, a man may think an untruth as well as speak one. ABSOLUTE Very true, sir; but if a man never utters his thoughts, I should think they might stand a chance of escaping controversy. Sir LUCIUS Then, sir, you differ in opinion with me, which amounts to the same thing. ABSOLUTE Hark'ee, Sir Lucius; if I had not before known you to be a gentleman, upon my soul, I should not have discovered it at this interview: for what you can drive at, unless you mean to quarrel with me, I cannot conceive! Sir LUCIUS I humbly thank you, sir, for the quickness of your apprehension.--[Bowing.] You have named the very thing I would be at. ABSOLUTE Very well, sir; I shall certainly not balk your inclinations.--But I should be glad you would please to explain your motives.