SCENE I.--_A chamber in_ LADY ALLWORTH'S _house. Enter_ LOVELL _and_ LADY ALLWORTH _contracted to one another. He has told her that only a desire to promote the union of her promising young stepson_, ALLWORTH, _with_ MARGARET OVERREACH _tempted him into a seeming courtship of_ SIR GILES'S _daughter. She has told him that her somewhat exaggerated courtesies and attentions to_ WELLBORN _were an obligation paid to one who in his prosperous days had ventured all for her dead husband. To them enter_ WELLBORN _in a rich habit_. LADY ALLWORTH: You're welcome, sir. Now you look like yourself. WELLBORN: Your creature, madam. I will never hold My life my own, when you please to command it. LADY ALLWORTH: I'm glad my endeavours prospered. Saw you lately Sir Giles, your uncle? WELLBORN: I heard of him, madam, By his minister, Marrall. He's grown into strange passions About his daughter. This last night he looked for Your lordship at his house; but missing you, And she not yet appearing, his wise head Is much perplexed and troubled. OVERREACH (_outside_): Ha! find her, booby; thou huge lump of nothing. I'll bore thine eyes out else. WELLBORN: May't please your lordship, For some ends of my own, but to withdraw A little out of sight, though not of hearing. LOVELL: You shall direct me. [_Steps aside. Enter_ OVERREACH, _with distracted looks, driving in_ MARRALL _before him_. OVERREACH: Lady, by your leave, did you see my daughter, lady, And the lord, her husband? Are they in your house? If they are, discover, that I may bid them joy; And, as an entrance to her place of honour, See your ladyship on her left hand, and make curt'sies When she nods on you; which you must receive As a special favour. LADY ALLWORTH: When I know, Sir Giles, Her state require such ceremony I shall pay it; Meantime, I neither know nor care where she is. OVERREACH: Nephew! WELLBORN: Well. OVERREACH: No more! WELLBORN: 'Tis all I owe you. OVERREACH: I am familiar with the cause that makes you Bear up thus bravely; there's a certain buz Of a stolen marriage--do you hear? Of a stolen marriage; In which, 'tis said, there's somebody hath been cozened. I name no parties. [LADY ALLWORTH _turns away_. WELLBORN: Well, sir, and what follows? OVERREACH: Marry, this, since you are peremptory. Remember Upon mere hope of your great match I lent you A thousand pounds. Put me in good security, And suddenly, by mortgage or by statute, Of some of your new possessions, or I'll have you Dragged in your lavender robes to the jail. Shall I have security?