University of Virginia Library

SCENE X.

Blount, Lucy, Walpole at watch unobserved.
LUCY.
Saints in heaven, Mr Jones!

WALPOLE
(aside).
Selden Blount, by Old Nick!

BLOUNT.
What! you are not then chained! Must each word be a trick?
Ah! you looked for a gallant more dainty and trim;
He deputes me to say he abandons his whim;
By his special request I am here in his place—
Saving him from a crime and yourself from disgrace.
Still, ungrateful, excuse for your folly I make—
Still the prize he disdains to my heart I can take.
Fly with me, as with him you would rashly have fled;—
He but sought to degrade you, I seek but to wed.
Take revenge on the false heart, give bliss to the true!

LUCY.
If he's false to myself, I were falser to you,
Could I say I forget him;

BLOUNT.
You will, when my wife.

LUCY.
That can never be—

BLOUNT.
Never!

LUCY.
One love lasts thro' life!

BLOUNT.
Traitress! think not this insult can tamely be borne—
Hearts like mine are too proud for submission to scorn.
You are here at my mercy—that mercy has died;
You remain as my victim or part as my bride.
(Locks the door.)
See, escape is in his vain, and all others desert you;
Let these arms be your refuge.

WALPOLE
(tapping him on the shoulder).
Well said, Public Virtue!

(Blount, stupefied, drops the key, which Walpole takes up, stepping out into the balcony, to return as Blount, recovering himself, makes a rush at the window.)
WALPOLE
(stopping him).
As you justly observed, “See, escape is in vain”—
I have pushed down the ladder.

BLOUNT
(laying his hand on his sword).
'Sdeath! draw, sir!—

WALPOLE.
Abstain.
From that worst of all blunders, a profitless crime.
Cut my innocent throat? Fie! one sin at a time.

BLOUNT.
Sir, mock on, I deserve it; expose me to shame,
I've o'erthrown my life's labour,—an honest man's name.

LUCY
(stealing up to Blount).
No; a moment of madness can not sweep away
All I owed, and—forgive me—have failed to repay:
(To Walpole.)
Be that moment a secret.

WALPOLE.
If woman can keep one,
Then a secret's a secret. Gad, Blount, you're a deep one!

(Knock at the door; Walpole opens it.)
(Enter Bellair and Veasey, followed by Mrs Vizard.)