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Enter VELLUM, and Sir GEORGE in his Conjurer's habit.

VELLU M.

I will introduce this profound perfon to yourLadyship, and then leave him with you-Sir, this is her ho-nour. Sir GEORG E.

I know it well. [Exit Vellum. [Afide, walking in a mufing posture.] That dear woman! the fight of her unmans me. I could weep for tenderness, did not I, at the fame time, feel an indignation rife in me, to fee that wretch with her: And yet I cannot but fimile to fee her in the company of her first and fecond husband at the fame time.

LADY.

Mr. Tinfel, do you speak to him, you are used to the company of men of learning.

TINSE L.

Old gentleman, thou doft not look like an inhabitant of this world; I fuppofe thou art lately come down from the ftars. Pray what news is stirring in the Zodiac ?!

Sir GEORGE.

News that ought to make the heart of a coward tremble. Mars is now entering into the firft houfe, and will fhortly appear in all his domal dignities.

TINSEL.

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Mars? pr'ythee, father grey-beard, explain thyself.

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The entrance of Mars into his houfe, portends the entrance of a mafter into this family, and that foon. TINSE L.

D'ye hear that, widow? The stars have cut me out for thy husband, this houfe is to have a mafter, and that foon- -Hark thee, old Gadbury, is not Mars very like a young fellow called Tom Tinfel?

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Sir

Sir GEORGE.

Not fo much as Venus is like this Lady.

TINSEL.

A word in your ear, Doctor; these two planets will be in conjunction by and by; I can tell you that.

Sir GEORGE. [Afide, walking disturbed.] Curfe on this impertinent fop! I fhall fcarce forbear difcovering myfelf-Madam, I am told that your house is vifited with ftrange noises.

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LADY

And I am told that you can quiet them. I must confefs I had a curiofity to fee the perfon I had heard fo much of; and indeed, your aspect shows that you have had much experience in the world. You must be a very aged man.

Sir GEORGE. My afpect deceives you; what do you think is my real age?

TINSE L.

Ifhould guess thee within three years of Methuselah. Pr'ythee tell me, was not thou born before the flood?

LADY.

Truly I should guess you to be in your fecond or third century. I warrant you, you have great grandchildren with beards of a foot long.

Sir GEORGE.

Ha, ha, ha! if there be truth in man, I was but five and thirty laft Auguft. O! the ftudy of the occult fciences makes a man's beard grow fafter than you would imagine.

LADY..

What an escape you have had, Mr. Tinfel, that you were not bred a scholar!

TINSEL

And fo I fancy, doctor, thou think'ft me an illiterate

fellow, because I have a smooth-chin?

Sir GEORGE.

Hark ye, Sir, a word in your ear.

You are a cox

comb by all the rules of phyfiognomy: but let that be [Afide to Tinfel.

a fecret between you and me.

LADY.

Pray, Mr. Tinfel, what is it the Doctor whispers?

TINSEL.

Only a compliment, child, upon two or three of my features. It does not become ine to repeat it.

LADY.

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Pray, Doctor, examine this gentleman's face, and tell me his fortune.

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If I may believe the lines of his face, he likes it better than I do, or than you do, fair Lady."

TINSE L.

Widow, I hope now thou'rt convinc'd he's a cheat. L. AD Y.!

For ny part I believe he's a witch-go on, Doctor. GEORGE.

Sir

He will be crofs'd in love; and that foon.

TINSE L..

Pr'ythee, Doctor, tell us the truth. Doft not thou live in Moor-Fields?

Sir GEORGE.

Take my word for it, thou shalt never live in my Lady Truman's manfion-house.

TINSE L.

Pray, old gentleman, haft thou never been pluck'd by the beard when thou wert faucy?

LADY..

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Nay, Mr. Tinfel, you are angry! do think I would marry a man that dares not have his fortune told?

Sir GEORGE.

Let him be angry-I matter not—he is but short

liv'd. He will foon die of

TIN

TINSEL.

Come, come, peak out, old Hocus, he, he, he! this fellow makes me burft with laughing. [Forces a laugh. Sir GEORGE.

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He will foon die of a fright or of the let me fee your nofeay? 'tis fo!

TINSEL.

You fon of a whore! I'll run you through the body, I never yet made the fun fhine through a conjurerLADY.

Oh, fy, Mr. Tinfel! you will not kill an old man? TINSEL.

An old man! the dog fays he's but five and thirty. LADY.

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Oh, fy, Mr. Tinfel, I did not think you could have been fo paffionate; I hate a paffionate man. Put up your fword, or I must never fee you again.

TINSE L.

Ha, ha, ha! I was but in jeft, my dear. I had a mind to have made an experiment upon the Doctor's body. I would but have drill'd a little eyelet hole in it, and have seen whether he had art enough to close it up again.

Sir GEORGE.

Courage is but ill shown before a Lady. But know if ever I meet thee again, thou shalt find this arm can wield other weapons befides this wand.

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LADY.

Well, learned Sir, you are to give a proof of your art, not of your courage. Or if you will show your courage, let it be at nine o'clock-for that is the time the noise is generally heard.

TINSEL.

And look ye, old gentleman, if thou doft not do thy

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business well, I can tell thee by the little fkill I have, that thou wilt be tofs'd in a blanket before ten. We'll do our endeavour to fend thee back to the stars again. Sir GEORGE.

I'll go and prepare myself for the ceremonies. and Lady, as you expect they should fucceed to your wishes, treat that fellow with the contempt he deserves. [Exit Sir George,

TINSEL.

The faucieft dog I ever talk'd with in my whole

life!

LADY.

Methinks he's a diverting fellow; one may fee he's no fool.

TINSEL.

No fool! ay, but thou doft not take him for a conjurer.

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LADY.

Truly I don't know what to take him for: I am refolv'd to employ him however. When a fickness is defperate, we often try remedies that we have no great faith in.

Enter A B IGA L.

ABIGA L."

Madam, the tea is ready in the parlour, as you order'd.
LADY..

Come, Mr. Tinfel, we may there talk of this subjec more at leisure. [Exeunt Lady and Tinfel.

ABIGA L fola.

Sure never any Lady had such fervants as mine has! well, if I get this thousand pound, I hope to have fome of my own. Let me fee, I'll have a pretty tight girl-juft fuch as I was ten years ago (I'm afraid I may fay twenty) the fhall drefs me and flatter me-for I will be

flatter'd

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