Gipsy has sold herself
to the devil; I saw the price paid down, my eyes
shall take their oath on't. {401}

_Arch_. And is all this bustle about Gipsy?

_Scrub_. That's not all; I could hear but a word here and
there; but I remember they mentioned a Count, a
closet, a back-door, and a key.

_Arch_. The Count!--Did you hear nothing of Mrs. Sullen?

_Scrub_. I did hear some word that sounded that way;
but whether it was Sullen or Dorinda, I could not
distinguish. {409}

_Arch_. You have told this matter to nobody, brother?

_Scrub_. Told! no, sir, I thank you for that; I 'm resolved
never to speak one word _pro_ nor _con_, till we have a
peace.

_Arch_. You're i' the right, brother Scrub. Here's a
treaty afoot between the Count and the lady: the
priest and the chambermaid are the plenipotentiaries.
It shall go hard but I find a way to be included in
the treaty.--Where 's the doctor now?

_Scrub_. He and Gipsy are this moment devouring my
lady's marmalade in the closet. {420}

_Aim_. [_From without_.] Martin! Martin!

_Arch_. I come, sir, I come.

_Scrub_. But you forget the other guinea, brother Martin.

_Arch_. Here, I give it with all my heart.

_Scrub_. And I take it with all my soul.--[_Exit Archer_.]
Ecod, I 'll spoil your plotting, Mrs. Gipsy! and if
you should set the captain upon me, these two
guineas will buy me off. [_Exit_.

_Re-enter Mrs. Sullen and Dorinda, meeting_.

_Mrs. Sul_. Well, sister!

_Dor_. And well, sister! {430}

_Mrs. Sul_. What's become of my lord?

_Dor_. What's become of his servant?

_Mrs. Sul_. Servant! he's a prettier fellow, and a finer
gentleman by fifty degrees, than his master.

_Dor_. O' my conscience, I fancy you could beg that
fellow at the gallows-foot!

_Mrs. Sul_. O' my conscience I could, provided I could
put a friend of yours in his room.

_Dor_. You desired me, sister, to leave you, when you
transgressed the bounds of honour. {440}

_Mrs. Sul_. Thou dear censorious country girl! what
dost mean? You can't think of the man without
the bedfellow, I find.

_Dor_. I don't find anything unnatural in that thought:
while the mind is conversant with flesh and blood,
it must conform to the humours of the company.

_Mrs. Sul_. How a little love and good company
improves a woman! Why, child, you begin to live--
you never spoke before.