Scene IV
Knickerbocker’s House as before.
Knickerbocker, Alice and Lorrenna enter.
Knickerbocker.
Give me joy, dears; I’m elected unanimously—elected a member of the Legislature.
Alice.
Why, spouse!
Knickerbocker.
Mr. Knickerbocker, if you please, my dear; damme! I’m so happy I could fly to the moon, jump over a steeple, dance a new fandango on stilts. [Dances.] Fal, lal, la.
Enter Herman.
Knickerbocker.
Well, sir, what the devil do you want?
Herman.
I came to claim this lady’s fortune or her hand.
Alice.
Knock him down, spouse.
Knickerbocker.
Mr. Knickerbocker, my dear.
Alice.
Oh, bother! I know if he comes near my niece, woman as I am, I’ll scratch his eyes out.
Herman.
Mr. Knickerbocker.
Knickerbocker.
The honourable member from —— County, if you please.
Herman.
The judge of the district will this day arrive and give judgement on my appeal: my rights are definitive, and I question the whole world to controvert them. We shall meet before the tribunal; then presume to contend longer if you dare. [Exit.
Knickerbocker.
’Twill be difficult, no doubt, but we’ll have a wrangle for the bone, as the dog’s have it; there will be no curs found in our party, I’ll be sworn. [Aside.] Hang me, but I’m really a little chop fallen and there is a strange sense of dizziness in my head which almost overcomes me.
Lorrenna.
My dear uncle, what is to be done in this emergency?
Knickerbocker.
Done! your fortune is done for: but if you ever want a cent whilst I have one, may I be sent to the devil, that’s all.
Gustaffe.
[Entering.] Bravo! Nunkey Knickerbocker! you are no blind pilot. Awake to breakers and quicksand, Knickerbocker.
Knickerbocker.
Knickerbocker! the honourable Mr. Knickerbocker, if you please; I’m now a member of the Legislature and, curse me, if I’d change my dignified station as representative of an independent people, for that of the proudest potentate who holds supremacy by corruption or the bayonet. [Exeunt.