Scene III The Old Pall Mall
Enter Ranger and Dapperwit.
Ran. Now the Lucys have renounced us, hey for the Christinas! She cannot use me worse than your honourable mistress did you.
Dap. A pox! some young heir or another has promised her marriage. There are so many fools in the world, ’tis impossible for a man of wit to keep his wench from being a lady, let me perish!
Ran. But have you no other acquaintance that sticks to her vocation, in spite of temptations of honour or filthy lucre? I declare, I make honourable love merely out of necessity, as your rooks play on the square rather than not play at all.
Enter Leonore masked, with a letter in her hand.
Dap. Come, the devil will not lose a gamester: here’s ready money for you, push freely.
Ran. Thou art as well met as if by assignation. [To Leonore.
Leo. And you are as well met as if you were the man I looked for.
Ran. Kind rogue!
Leo. Sweet sir!
Ran. Come, I am thy prisoner, (without more words,) show but thy warrant. [Goes to pull off her mask.
Leo. You mistake, sir; here is my pass. [Gives him the letter.
Ran. A letter! and directed to me!
[Reads.] “I cannot put up the injuries and affronts you did me last night;”—a challenge, upon my life! and by such a messenger!—“therefore conjure you by your honour, at eight o’clock precisely, this evening, to send your man to St. James’s gate, to wait for me with a chair, to conduct me to what place you shall think most fit, for the giving of satisfaction to the injured—Christina.”
Christina! I am amazed! What is it o’clock, Dapperwit?
Dap. It wants not half an hour of eight.
Ran. [To Leonore.] Go then back, my pretty herald, and tell my fair enemy the service she designs my man is only fit for my friend here; whose faith and honour she may be secure of. He shall immediately go wait for her at St James’s gate, whilst I go to prepare a place for our rencounter, and myself to die at her feet. [Exit Leonore.] Dapperwit, dear Dapperwit.
Dap. What lucky surprisal’s this?
Ran. Prithee ask no questions, till I have more leisure and less astonishment. I know you will not deny to be an instrument in my happiness.
Dap. No, let me perish! I take as much pleasure to bring lovers together as an old woman; or as a bankrupt gamester loves to look on, though he has no advantage by the play; or as a bully that fights not himself, yet takes pleasure to set people together by the ears, or as—
Ran. ‘Sdeath! is this a time for similitudes?
Dap. You have made me miscarry of a good thought now, let me perish!
Ran. Go presently to St. James’s gate, where you are to expect the coming of a lady (’tis Christina), accompanied by that woman you saw e’en now. She will permit you to put her into a chair, and then conduct her to my lodging; while I go before to remove some spies, and prepare it for her reception.
Dap. Your lodging? had you not better carry her to Vincent’s? ’tis hard by; and there a vizard mask has as free egress and regress as at the playhouse.
Ran. Faith, though it be not very prudent, yet she shall come thither in my vindication; for he would not believe I had seen her last night.
Dap. To have a fine woman, and not tell on’t as you say, Mr. Ranger—
Ran. Go, and bring her to Vincent’s lodging; there I’ll expect you. [Exeunt severally.