_John._ Now, who's the crimp, and the pander? I never told you this since; because I thought a man's own reflections were the best punishment for betraying an innocent woman. _Lady Am._ Madam, my inmost soul partaketh of thy gladness, and joy for thy reformation. [_To_ SIR GEORGE.] But thy prior marriage to this lady, annuls the subsequent, and my cousin Harry is not now thy heir. _Sir Geo._ So much the better; he's an unnatural cub; but, Amelia, I flatter myself I have an heir, my infant boy.-- _Amelia._ Ah, husband, you had; but-- _Sir Geo._ Gone! well, well, I see I have been a miserable scoundrel --Eh, I will, yes, I'll adopt that brave kind lad, that wou'dn't let any body kill me but himself. He shall have my estate, that's my own acquisition--My lady, marry him, puppy unknown's a fine fellow! Amelia, only for him, you'd never have found your husband Captain Seymour in Sir George Thunder. _Amelia._ What? _Banks._ Are you Sir George Thunder? _Enter_ LANDLORD, _followed by_ EPHRAIM. _Land._ Please you, madam, they've got a footpad in custody. _Eph._ I am come to sit in judgment, for there is a bad man in thy house, Mary. Bring him before me. _Sir Geo._ Before you, old squintabus? And perhaps you don't know I'm a magistrate? _Eph._ I'll examine him. _Sir Geo._ You be damn'd--I'll examine him myself, [_Shoves_ EPHRAIM.] Tow him in here. I'll give him a passport to Winchester bilboes. _Amelia._ [_Kneels to_ SIR GEORGE.] Oh, sir, as you hope for mercy, extend it to this youth; but even should he be guilty, which, from our knowledge of his benevolent and noble nature, I think next to an impossibility, let the services he has rendered to us--he protected, relieved your forsaken wife, and her unhappy brother, in the hour of want and sorrow. _Sir Geo._ What, Amelia, plead for a robber! Consider, my love, justice is above bias or partiality. If my son violated the laws of his country, I'd deliver him up a public victim to disgrace and punishment. _Lady Am._ Oh, my impartial uncle! Had thy country any laws to punish him, who instead of paltry gold, would rob the artless virgin of her dearest treasure, in the rigid judge I should now behold the trembling criminal. _Enter_ TWITCH, _with_ ROVER _bound, who keeps his face averted, and Two_ RUFFIANS. _Eph._ [_Advances._] Speak thou. _Sir Geo._ Hold thy clapper thou--Who are the prosecutors? _Eph._ Call in-- _Sir Geo._ Will nobody stop his mouth? [JOHN DORY _pushes him up against the wall_.] Where are the prosecutors? _Twitch._ There, tell his worship, the justice. _2d Ruffian._ A justice--Oh! the devil! I thought we should have nothing but quakers to deal with. [_Aside._] Why, your honour, I'll swear--[_In a feigned country voice._ _Sir Geo._ [_Looking at them._] Oh, ho! Clap down the hatches, secure these sharks. _Rover._ I thought I should find you here, Abrawang, and that you had some knowledge of these fellows. _Lady Am._ Heavens! my cousin Harry--[_Aside._]