_Trap_. All's over, sir, all's over; you might as well have stayed away entirely; the fifth act's beginning, and the plot's at an end. _Sneer_. What!'s the plot at an end before the fifth act is begun? _Trap_. No, no, no, no, I don't mean at an end; but we are so far advanced in it that it will be impossible for you to comprehend or understand anything of it. _Fust_. You have too mean an opinion of Mr Sneerwell's capacity; I'll engage he shall understand as much of it as I, who have heard the other four. _Trap_. Sir, I can't help your want of understanding or apprehension; 'tis not my fault if you cannot take a hint, sir: would you have a catastrophe in every act? Oons and the devil! have not I promised you you should know all by and by? but you are so impatient! _Fust_. I think you have no reason to complain of my want of patience. Mr Sneerwell, be easy; 'tis but one short act before my tragedy begins; and that I hope will make you amends for what you are to undergo before it. Trapwit, I wish you would begin. _Trap_. I wish so too. Come, prompter! are the members in their chairs? _Promp_. Yes, sir. _Trap_. Then carry them over the stage: but, hold, hold, hold! where is the woman to strew the flowers? [_The members are carried over the stage_.] Halloo, mob, halloo, halloo! Oons, Mr Prompter! you must get more mob to halloo, or these gentlemen will never be believed to have had the majority. _Promp_. Sir, I can get no more mob; all the rest of the mob are gone to St James's-park to see the show. _Sneer_. Pray, Mr Trapwit, who are these gentlemen in the chairs? _Trap_. Ay, sir, this is your staying away so long; if you had been here the first four acts you would have known who they were. _Fust_. Dear Sneerwell, ask him no more questions; if you enquire into every absurdity you see we shall have no tragedy to-day. _Trap_. Come, Mr Mayor and Mrs Mayoress. _Enter_ Mayor _and_ Mrs Mayoress. _May_. So, now you have undone yourself your own way; you have made me vote against my conscience and interest too, and now I have lost both parties. _Mrs M_. How have you lost both parties? _May_. Why, my lord will never remember my voting for him, now he has lost the day; and Sir Harry, who has won it, will never forgive my voting against him: let which side will be uppermost, I shall have no place till the next election. _Mrs M_. It will be your own fault then, sir; for you have it now in your power to oblige my lord more than ever; go and return my lord and the colonel as duly elected, and I warrant you I do your business with him yet. _May_. Return 'em, my dear? Why, there was a majority of two or three score against 'em.