_Chris._ Do they say I was really Clerimont's wench, as he boasted; and that the ground of the quarrel betwixt Valentine and him was not Valentine's vindication of my honour, but Clerimont's jealousy of him? _Isa._ Worse, worse a thousand times! such villainous things to the utter ruin of your reputation! _Chris._ What are they? _Isa._ Faith, madam, you'll be angry: 'tis the old trick of lovers to hate their informers, after they have made 'em such. _Chris._ I will not be angry. _Isa._ They say then, since Mr. Valentine's flying into France you are grown mad, have put yourself into mourning, live in a dark room, where you'll see nobody, nor take any rest day or night, but rave and talk to yourself perpetually. _Chris._ Now, what else? _Isa._ But the surest sign of your madness is, they say, because you are desperately resolved (in case my Lord Clerimont should die of his wounds) to transport yourself and fortune into France to Mr. Valentine, a man that has not a groat to return you in exchange. _Chris._ All this, hitherto, is true; now to the rest. _Isa._ Indeed, madam, I have no more to tell you. I was sorry, I'm sure, to hear so much of any lady of mine. _Chris._ Insupportable insolence! _Isa._ [_Aside._] This is some revenge for my want of sleep to-night.--[_Knocking at the door._] So, I hope my old second is come; 'tis seasonable relief. [_Exit._ _Chris._ Unhappy Valentine! couldst thou but see how soon thy absence and misfortunes have disbanded all thy friends, and turned thy slaves all renegadoes, thou sure wouldst prize my only faithful heart! _Enter_ Lady FLIPPANT, LYDIA, _and_ ISABEL. _L. Flip._ Hail, faithful shepherdess! but, truly, I had not kept my word with you, in coming back to-night, if it had not been for this lady, who has her intrigues too with the fellows as well as you. _Lyd._ Madam, under my Lady Flippant's protection, I am confident to beg yours; being just now pursued out of the Park by a relation of mine, by whom it imports me extremely not to be discovered:--[_Knocking at the door._] but I fear he is now at the door.--[_To_ ISABEL, _who goes out._] Let me desire you to deny me to him courageously;--for he will hardly believe he can be mistaken in me. _Chris._ In such an occasion, where impudence is requisite, she will serve you as faithfully as you can wish, madam. _L. Flip._ Come, come, madam, do not upbraid her with her assurance, a qualification that only fits her for a lady's service. A fine woman of the town can be no more without a woman that can make an excuse with assurance, than she can be without a glass, certainly. _Chris._ She needs no advocate.