HASTINGS: My dear Marlow, the most fortunate event! Let me present Miss Constance Neville. She and Miss Hardcastle have just alighted to take fresh horses. Miss Hardcastle will be here directly. Isn't it fortunate? MARLOW: Oh, yes; very fortunate, a most joyful encounter; but our dresses, George! To-morrow will be every bit as convenient. Let it be to-morrow. HASTINGS: Pshaw, man! Courage, courage! It is but the first plunge. [_Enter_ KATE _as from a walk_. HASTINGS _introduces them_. KATE (_after a pause_): I am glad of your safe arrival, sir. I am told you had some accidents by the way. MARLOW: A few, madam. Yes, we had some. Yes, a good many. But should be sorry, madam--I mean glad--of any accidents that are so agreeably concluded. George, sure you won't go? HASTINGS: You don't consider, man, that we are to manage a little _tête-à-tête_ of our own. [_Exeunt_ HASTINGS _and_ MISS NEVILLE. MARLOW: I am afraid, madam, I--hem--grow tiresome. KATE: Not at all, sir; there is nothing I like so much as grave consideration. You were going to observe---- MARLOW: I was about to observe, madam--I was--I protest, I forgot---- KATE: Something about hypocrisy--this age of hypocrisy. MARLOW: Ah, yes. In this age of hypocrisy there are few who--a--a---- But I see Miss Neville expects us; shall I---- KATE: I'll follow you. If I could teach him a little confidence! [_Exeunt_. Mrs. Hardcastle, Miss Neville, Hastings and Tony enter. In pursuance of their plot, Constance engages Tony in a determined flirtation, to his extreme disgust, while Hastings wins the heart of Mrs. Hardcastle by extravagant flatteries. On the pretext of bringing the "dear, sweet, pretty, provoking, undutiful boy" to a better mind, Hastings gets rid of the ladies, and then offers to take Miss Neville off Tony's hands. Tony joyfully engages to help the elopement, and procure Miss Neville's jewels. ACT III SCENE.--_As before. Enter_ TONY _with a casket_. TONY: Ecod, I've got 'em. Cousin Con's necklaces, bobs and all. My mother shan't cheat the poor souls out of their fortin. Here's (_enter_ HASTINGS) your sweetheart's jewels. If I hadn't a key to every drawer in my mother's bureau---- Never you mind me. Zounds, here she comes. Keep 'em. Morrice! Prance! [_Exit_ HASTINGS. _Enter_ MISS NEVILLE, _and_ MRS. HARDCASTLE, _who refuses to let her ward have her jewels_. MRS. HARDCASTLE: They are missing, I assure you. My son knows they are missing, and not to be found. TONY: I can bear witness to that. I'll take my oath on't. MRS. HARDCASTLE: In the meantime you can use my garnets. [_Exit._ MISS NEVILLE: I detest garnets.