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COUNSELLOR FLEFFEL, his Son.
MR. DRAVE, a Merchant, Guardian to the two BROOKS.
LEWIS BROOK, \ > Brothers PHILIP BROOK, /
MR. ROSE, a Banker.
Clerk to the Chancellor.
Old Man.
FREDERICK DRAVE's Servant.
At the Chancellor's House.
COUNSELLOR FLEFFEL, LEWIS BROOK, at Breakfast.
Enter a Servant.
Counsellor (to the Servant).
Take away. But, no—let it stand; my father may chuse some: is he returned?
Servant. I'll enquire, Sir. [Exit Servant.
Counsellor [rising and viewing himself]. We've made a long breakfast.
Lewis. But you have eaten nothing.
Counsellor. Why, my dear friend, I'm quite uneasy about my growing so fat.
Lewis [ironically]. Oh, certainly; All the affecting graces of a pining love-sick swain will be destroyed: you'll lose all your credit with the ladies.—Apropos of ladies, how do you stand with Miss Drave?
Counsellor. Ill enough. Your worthy guardian and the whole family are so intolerably stiff.
Lewis. Don't say I told you; but you certainly are the happy man.
Counsellor. I?—No indeed; it is rather you.
Lewis. You have nothing to fear from me. You know my passion for your sister. But for that grave, melancholy gentleman, my dear brother, I'd have you beware of him.
Counsellor [laughs] Excellent! As if such a sour misanthrope could please any one, particularly a young girl.
Lewis. Tastes are different; and besides, my serious guardian is his friend.
Counsellor. So much the worse for you.
Lewis. No matter.
Counsellor. How! Believe me, this excellent brother of yours is continually defaming you.
Lewis. I know it very well.
Counsellor. And he is now striving——
Lewis. I know what you would say; to enforce the clause of my father's will.
Counsellor. Tell me, how is this clause worded?
Lewis. If one of his sons should turn out a prodigal, the other is declared his tutor.
Counsellor. It is a shocking clause.
Lewis. It is indeed. Yet, should they attempt it—by heavens!—But to the purpose—your father is still willing to give me your sister?
Counsellor. Certainly.
Lewis. But take care then I have some of the ready with her.
Counsellor. Oh, you may depend upon that.
Lewis. Not any of your father's own; only my share of the fortune of old Crack-brains.
Counsellor. Old Crack-brains! What do you mean?
Lewis. As if you did not know! Why my old uncle, to whom you have prescribed a little wholesome confinement, by way of cure for his pretended madness.
Counsellor. Oh! that old man! So, so.
Lewis. Exactly. You always seem wonderfully at a loss when that point is touch'd.
Counsellor. But—I was going to observe—yes—it might be done, had he not escaped—but now it is uncertain whether he is alive, or what is become of him.
Lewis. I say he is dead.
Counsellor. But we have not heard.
Lewis. He shall be dead.
Counsellor. But——
Lewis. Why a live man is as easily declared to be dead, as a man in his senses to be mad; and if he should make his appearance, you can secure him again.
Counsellor. No! who would do that?
Lewis. Zounds! what a tender conscience! If my uncle could be declared mad, by your good-nature, that you might shew your Christian charity, in managing his estate, I am sure your noble heart would have no scruple to advance a part of the inheritance to the lawful heir.
Counsellor. My dear friend, your expressions are so harsh—so——
Lewis. His madness was not so very clear. The old fellow was reasonable enough at times.
Counsellor. Quite out of his senses, I assure you: mad as a March hare.
Lewis I don't know how—but indeed, I sometimes pity him.
Counsellor. It was the will of God.
Lewis. Oh, I have nothing to do with that: 'tis a subject too deep for me. But beware of my brother: he suspects foul play, and has spies drawn up every where.
Enter CHANCELLOR FLEFFEL.
Counsellor. Good morning, dear father.
Lewis [bowing]. My Lord!
Chancellor. Good morning, my son,—your most obedient, Sir.
Lewis. Engaged so early?
Chancellor. Can I avoid it, my dear Sir?
Lewis. The State is much indebted to you.
Chancellor. Yet my zeal is frequently overlooked—no attention paid. [To his son] No news, Samuel?
Counsellor. No, father.
Chancellor. I feel quite tired.
Counsellor. You have had no breakfast.
Chancellor. No; and the cold marble floor of the Palace has quite chilled me. What have you here? [Seats himself at the breakfast table.] Our most excellent Prince has been heaping new favours upon me. You have heard, no doubt, [to Lewis] of the bustle there has been. An underclerk of the Treasury, a man of no extraction, accused me of a fraud, in executing the late regulations for the distribution of corn to the poor.
Lewis. So I have been informed—and what is our Prince's pleasure?
Chancellor. As the man could bring no evidence whatever, his Serene Highness, for the reparation of my honour, has been graciously pleased to punish him.
Lewis. And in what manner?
Chancellor. The warrant was signed yesterday, [drinks]—To be cashiered and banished.
Lewis. He is pretty well rewarded.
Chancellor. I have supplicated, my dear Sir, for a mitigation of the sentence—but in vain——Samuel, cut me a wing of that fowl——I have sent another letter, on your account, to Mr. Drave.
Lewis. Too kind, my Lord.
Chancellor. I long to see his answer. To my last he sent an absolute refusal.
Lewis. Is it possible? Can he dare?
Chancellor [rising]. He has not gathered roses by it, my dear Sir—No, no, [laughs] £.4000, which I had in his hands, I withdrew instantly.—Your good father was wrong to put such promising sons under this man's guardianship.
Lewis. I agree with you; but some of his best friends advised him.
Chancellor [taking snuff]. Has Drave ever given any account of his guardianship?
Lewis. Not yet.
Chancellor. Note that, Samuel. He shall give it—I have hinted it in Court already—You must not lose your fortune, my dear Sir.
Lewis. I do not think there is any danger.
Chancellor. Well, but have you drawn up a statement of your property, as you promised?
Lewis [gives him a paper]. Here it is.
Chancellor [looking over it]. So, so; a very good fortune! [muttering] £.10,000 in the hands of Rose—Which Rose is that?
Lewis. John Frederick.
Chancellor. Samuel, give me the red ink.—[Writes.] So, so—£.10,000, at John Frederick Rose's.
Lewis. May I ask why that name strikes you so much?
Chancellor. For important reasons.
Lewis. You think——
Chancellor. That your property is not in the best hands, my dear Sir. Rose is rather in a ticklish situation just now.
Lewis. I may lose it then!
Chancellor. Not you exactly, but your worthy tutor might suffer. [Looks at the back of the paper.] Aye, aye; many drawbacks too—you are not the best manager, my good friend.
Lewis. I know it, my Lord.
Chancellor. Overcharged besides by your honest guardian now and then. I am a plain, sincere man. Speak freely—the valuable furniture—the plate—is there any regular inventory?
Lewis. No, my Lord. It was in the will.
Chancellor. You must apply to the Court then.
Lewis. Yes—But—
Chancellor. Only for form sake—you just sign a little paper—a mere form, I assure you. You are too good-natured—give so easily away—must not be.—Come, we will go to my room, and examine your affairs more closely. [Exeunt.
Apartment in Drave's House.
Mr. DRAVE writing.—Mrs. DRAVE enters.
Mrs. D. Good morning, my dear—you have not come down.
Mr. D. [gives her his hand, without looking up]. Good morning.
Mrs. D. You are busy.
Mr. D. I shall have done in a moment.
Mrs. D. I'll leave you.
Mr. D. [rising]. It is done now.
Mrs. D. You seem angry.
Mr. D. No wonder—that man——
Mrs. D. Who?
Mr. D. My hopeful ward Lewis—as I am not always ready to pay his debts, he sets the Chancellor upon me.
Mrs. D. Again? Very strange.
Mr. D. I am continually pestered with applications for the payment.
Mrs. D. And you——
Mr. D. With all due respect for these applications, I'll not pay.
Mrs. D. Very well: but——
Mr. D. And now this Chancellor sends me a letter, desiring me to bring him my accounts, as guardian to Lewis this afternoon that he may overlook them. I'll not do it. [Takes a letter off the table, and gives it to Mrs. Drave—walks angrily up and down while she reads it—takes it back]. What do you think of it?
Mrs. D. It is unpleasant—but why send a positive refusal?
Mr. D. And why not?
Mrs. D. The Chancellor is a very powerful man.
Mr. D. I do not fear him.
Mrs. D. He takes every opportunity to injure us; his hatred is implacable. What can you oppose to his base intrigues?
Mr. D. My heart, and plain dealing.
Mrs. D. Do not offend him so sensibly: rather send the accounts.
Mr. D. Never! The very sum he now troubles me for is to pay himself. He lent it to Lewis, through a third person, upon exorbitant interest.
Mrs. D. Base enough. But, I repeat it, he is powerful, and will revenge himself.
[Mr. D. seals the letter, rings the bell.—Enter
a Servant.]
Mrs. D. You will have it so. I wish all may be well.
Mr. D. [giving the letter to the Servant]. To the Chancellor's. [Exit Servant.
Mrs. D. Had you only done it in a better manner—You may remember 'twas for your rashness he withdrew the £.4000.
Mr. D. For my rashness? Oh, no.—To place it out at higher interest somewhere else.—At such an unseasonable time too—there again—thus to undermine good houses, that he may have full scope for his unfair practices.
Mrs. D.