_Wid._ Nay, captain, I tell you, you are my prime witness; and the cause is just now coming on, Mr. Splitcause tells me. Lord, methinks you should take a pleasure in walking here, as half you see now do; for they have no business here, I assure you. _Man._ Yes; but I'll assure you then, their business is to persecute me. But d'ye think I'll stay any longer, to have a rogue, because he knows my name, pluck me aside and whisper a news-book secret to me with a stinking breath? a second come piping angry from the court, and sputter in my face his tedious complaints against it? a third law-coxcomb, because he saw me once at a reader's dinner, come and put me a long law case, to make a discovery of his indefatigable dulness and my wearied patience? a fourth, a most barbarous civil rogue, who will keep a man half an hour in the crowd with a bowed body, and a hat off, acting the reformed sign of the Salutation tavern, to hear his bountiful professions of service and friendship, whilst he cares not if I were damned, and I am wishing him hanged out of my way?--I'd as soon run the gauntlet, as walk t'other turn. _Re-enter_ JERRY BLACKACRE, _without his bags, but laden with trinkets, which he endeavours to hide from his_ Mother, _and followed at a distance by_ FREEMAN. _Wid._ O, are you come, sir? but where have you been, you ass? and how came you thus laden? _Jer._ Look here, forsooth, mother; now here's a duck, here's a boar-cat, and here's an owl. [_Making a noise with catcalls and other such like instruments._ _Wid._ Yes, there is an owl, sir. _Old._ He's an ungracious bird indeed. _Wid._ But go, thou trangame,[116] and carry back those trangames, which thou hast stolen or purloined; for nobody would trust a minor in Westminster Hall, sure. _Jer._ Hold yourself contented, forsooth: I have these commodities by a fair bargain and sale; and there stands my witness and creditor. _Wid._ How's that? What sir, d'ye think to get the mother by giving the child a rattle?--But where are my bags, my writings, you rascal? _Jer._ O, la! where are they, indeed! [_Aside._ _Wid._ How, sirrah? speak, come-- _Man._ You can tell her, Freeman, I suppose. [_Apart to him._ _Free._ 'Tis true, I made one of your salt-water sharks steal 'em whilst he was eagerly choosing his commodities, as he calls 'em, in order to my design upon his mother. [_Apart to him._ _Wid._ Won't you speak? Where were you, I say, you son of a--an unfortunate woman?--O, major, I'm undone! They are all that concern my estate, my jointure, my husband's deed of gift, my evidences for all my suits now depending! What will become of them? _Free._ [_Aside._] I'm glad to hear this.--[_Aloud._] They'll be all safe, I warrant you, madam. _Wid._ O where? where? Come, you villain, along with me, and show me where. [_Exeunt_ Widow BLACKACRE, JERRY, _and_ OLDFOX.