_Fra._ I'll attend you. _Stra._ To any place? _Fra._ To death. _Stra._ Heav'n grant it--to me, at least! There is peace. _Fra._ Peace is every where. Let the storm rage without, if the heart be but at rest. Yet I think we are very well where we are: the situation is inviting; and nature lavish of her beauties, and of her bounties too. _Stra._ But I am not a wild beast, to be stared at, and sent for as a show. Is it fit I should be? _Fra._ Another of your interpretations! That a man, the life of whose only son you have saved, should invite you to his house, seems to me not very unnatural. _Stra._ I will not be invited to any house. _Fra._ For once, methinks, you might submit. You'll not be asked a second time. _Stra._ Proud wretches! They believe the most essential service is requited, if one may but have the honour of sitting at their table. Let us begone. _Fra._ Yet hold, sir! This bustle will soon be over. Used to the town, the Count and his party will soon be tired of simple nature, and you will again be freed from observation. _Stra._ Not from your's. _Fra._ This is too much. Do I deserve your doubts? _Stra._ Am I in the wrong? _Fra._ You are indeed! _Stra._ Francis, my servant, you are my only friend. _Fra._ That title makes amends for all. _Stra._ But look, Francis; there are uniforms and gay dresses in the walk again. No, I must be gone. Here I'll stay no longer. _Fra._ Well then, I'll tie up my bundle. _Stra._ The sooner the better! They come this way. Now must I shut myself in my hovel, and lose this fine breeze. Nay, if they be your highbred class of all, they may have impudence enough to walk into my chamber. Francis, I shall lock the door. [_Goes into the Lodge, locks the door, and fastens the shutters._ _Fra._ And I'll be your centinel. _Stra._ Very well. _Fra._ Now should these people be as inquisitive as their maid, I must summon my whole stock of impertinence. But their questions and my answers need little study. They can learn nothing of the Stranger from me; for the best of all possible reasons--I know nothing myself. _Enter BARON and COUNTESS._ _Countess._ There is a strange face. The servant probably. _Bar._ Friend, can we speak to your master? _Fra._ No. _Bar._ Only for a few minutes. _Fra._ He has locked himself in his room. _Countess._ Tell him a lady waits for him. _Fra._ Then he's sure not to come. _Countess._ Does he hate our sex? _Fra._ He hates the whole human race, but woman particularly. _Countess._ And why? _Fra._ He may perhaps have been deceived. _Countess._ This is not very courteous. _Fra._ My master is not over courteous: but when he sees a chance of saving a fellow creature's life, he'll attempt it at the hazard of his own. _Bar._ You are right. Now hear the reason of our visit. The wife and brother-in-law of the man, whose child your master has saved, wish to acknowledge their obligations to him.