Fontainbleau Part 3

_Lady B._ Ay, where's Dolly Bull?

_Enter MISS DOLLY BULL._

_Miss Dolly B._ Here I am, mamma. [_To MRS. CASEY._] Ma'am, pray which is the inn?

_Lady B._ Inn! Hotel, miss, if you please.

_Miss Dolly B._ Miss! Mademoiselle, if you please, ma'am.

_Sir John B._ Aha! well said Dolly--there was French upon French.

_Lady B._ Dear sir, which is the hotel?

[_To FRENCH INNKEEPER._

_Sir J. B._ How cursed polite, to a waiter too! only because he's French.

[_Aside._

_French Innk._ Dis vay, mademoiselle--I keep de Lily of France.

[_Bowing._

_Sir J. B._ Let's in, I'm plaguy hungry.

_French Innk._ Ah, monsieur, de nice Vermecelle-soup, de bon ragout, and de grande salade.

_Sir J. B._ Ragouts! Pshaw!

_Mrs. Casey._ D'ye hear, George, carry that big piece of roast beef up to the Lion.

_Sir J. B._ [_Goes to her._] Ay, and carry me up to the Lion, I like to dine in good company:--Who are you madam?

_Mrs. Casey._ I'm Mrs. Casey, at your service, sir; and I keep this house, the Lion of England.

_Sir J. B._ And are you English?

_Mrs. Casey._ Yes, that I am, born in Dublin; an honest Irish woman, upon my honour.

AIR.--MRS. CASEY.

_The British Lion is my sign, A roaring trade I drive on, Right English usage, neat French wine, A landlady must thrive on.

At table d'hote, to eat and drink, Let French and English mingle, And while to me they bring the c.h.i.n.k, 'Faith, let the gla.s.ses jingle._

_Your rhino rattle, Come men and cattle.

Come all to Mrs. Casey.

Of trouble and money, My jewel, my honey!

I warrant, I'll make you easy._

_Let love fly here on silken wings, His tricks I shall connive at; The lover, who would say soft things, Shall have a room in private: On pleasures I am pleas'd to wink, So lips and kisses mingle, For, while to me, they bring the c.h.i.n.k, 'Faith, let the gla.s.ses jingle, Your rhino rattle, &c._

_Sir J. B._ Bravo, Mrs. Casey!--introduce me to your roast beef.

[_Exeunt LADY BULL, DOLLY, and PORTERS._

_Enter LACKLAND._

_Lack._ Sir John Bull, I think they call him, from the city--[_Aside._]

Monsieur, Je vous veux parler--

_Sir J. B._ Don't vow parley me, I am English.

_Lack._ You are?--Your pardon, I see it in your honest face.

_Sir J. B._ Well, what have you to say to my honest face?

_Lack._ Say? me!--Damme, if I have any thing to say--but, only--how d'ye do?

_Sir J. B._ Why, pretty well; how are you?--A d.a.m.ned impudent fellow!

[_Aside._

_Lack._ And how have you left all friends in a--a--a--Throgmorton Street?

_Sir J. B._ Throgmorton Street!

_Lack._ That is--I mean--You're come to Fontainbleau, and just arrived:--my heart warmed at the sight of my countryman, for I'm English too,--a little unfortunate, but----

_Sir J. B._ You're poor, eh?

_Lack._ Why, sir,--I have had money--

_Sir J. B._ And what did you do with it?

_Lack._ Sir, I laid it out in experience.

_Sir J. B._ Oh! then, I suppose, now, you're a very cunning fellow.

_Lack._ I know the world, sir--I have had rent rolls, lands, tenements, hereditaments, mansions, arables, pastures, streams, stewards, beasts, tenants, quarter-days, and such other inc.u.mbrances.

_Sir J. B._ What, and you've got rid of them all?

_Lack._ Oh, yes.

_Sir J. B._ You're a devilish clever fellow:--but couldn't you have got your teeth drawn at the same time?--I suppose, now, you've little use for them.