Sterl. [ſulkily.] To be ſure, my Lord.—Theſe bawling women have been the ruin of every thing. [afide.
Lord Ogle. But come, I'll end this buſineſs in a trice—if you, ladies, will compoſe yourſelves, and Mr. Sterling will inſure Miſs Fanny from violence, I will engage to draw her from her pillow with a whiſper thro' the keyhole.
Mrs. Heidel. The horrid creatures!—I ſay, my Lord, break the door open.
Lord Ogle. Let me beg of your delicacy not to be too precipitate!—Now to our experiment!
[advancing towards the door.
Miſs Sterl. Now, what will they do?—my heart will beat thro' my boſom.
Enter Betty, with the key.
Betty. There's no occaſion for breaking open doors, my Lord; we have done nothing that we ought to be aſham'd of, and my miſtreſs ſhall face her enemies.—
[going to unlock the door.
Mrs. Heidel. There's impudence.
Lord Ogle. The myſtery thickens. Lady of the bed-chamber! [to Betty] open the door, and intreat Sir John Melvil (for theſe ladies will have it that he is there,) to appear and anſwer to high crimes and miſdemeanors.—Call Sir John Melvil into the court!
Enter Sir John Melvil, on the other ſide.
Sir John. I am here, my Lord.
Mrs. Heidel. Heyday!
Miſs Sterl. Aſtoniſhment!
Sir John. What is all this alarm and confuſion? there is nothing but hurry in the houſe; what is the reaſon of it?
Lord Ogle. Becauſe you have been in that chamber; have been! nay you are there at this moment, as theſe ladies have proteſted, ſo don't deny it—
Traverſe. This is the cleareſt Alibi I ever knew, Mr. Serjeant.
Flower.
