The Busie Body Part 8

_Whisp._ Hush, Speak softly; I go, go: But hark'e Mrs. _Patch_, shall not you and I have a little Confabulation, when my Master and your Lady is engag'd?

_Patch._ Ay, Ay, Farewell.

(_Goes in, and shuts the Door._

_Re-enter Sir _Jealous Traffick_ meeting _Whisper_._

Sir _Jeal._ Sure whil'st I was talking with Mr. _Tradewell_, I heard my Door clap. (_Seeing _Whisper_._) Ha! a Man lurking about my House; who do you want there, Sir?

_Whisp._ Want--want, a pox, Sir _Jealous!_ what must I say now?-- (_Aside._

Sir _Jeal._ Ay, want; have you a Letter or Message for any Body there?--O my Conscience, this is some He-Bawd--

_Whisp._ Letter or Message, Sir!

Sir _Jeal._ Ay, Letter or Message, Sir.

_Whisp._ No, not I, Sir.

Sir _Jeal._ Sirrah, Sirrah, I'll have you set in the Stocks, if you don't tell me your Business immediately.

_Whisp._ Nay, Sir, my Business--is no great matter of Business neither; and yet 'tis Business of Consequence too.

Sir _Jeal._ Sirrah, don't trifle with me.

_Whisp._ Trifle, Sir, have you found him, Sir?

Sir _Jeal._ Found what, you Rascal.

_Whisp._ Why _Trifle_ is the very Lap-Dog my Lady lost, Sir; I fancy'd I see him run into this House. I'm glad you have him--Sir, my Lady will be over-joy'd that 1 have found him.

Sir _Jeal._ Who is your Lady Friend?

_Whisp._ My Lady Love-puppy, Sir.

Sir _Jeal._ My Lady Love-puppy! then prithee carry thy self to her, for I know no other Whelp that belongs to her; and let me catch ye no more Puppy-hunting about my Doors, lest I have you prest into the Service, Sirrah.

_Whisp._ By no means, Sir--Your humble Servant; I must watch whether he goes, or no, before I can tell my Master.

(_Exit._

Sir _Jeal._ This Fellow has the Officious Leer of a Pimp; and I half suspect a Design, but I'll be upon them before they think on me, I warrant 'em.

(_Exit._

SCENE __Charles_'s Lodging._

_Enter _Charles_ and _Marplot_._

_Char._ Honest _Marplot_, I thank thee for this Supply; I expect my Lawyer with a Thousand Pound I have order'd him to take up, and then you shall be Repaid.

_Marpl._ Pho, pho, no more of that: Here comes Sir _George Airy_--

_Enter Sir _George_._

Cursedly out of Humour at his Disappointment; see how he looks! Ha, ha, ha.

Sir _Geo._ Ah, _Charles_, I am so humbled in my Pretensions to Plots upon Women, that I believe I shall never have Courage enough to attempt a Chamber-maid agen--I'll tell thee.

_Char._ Ha, ha; I'll spare you the Relation by telling you--Impatient to know your Business with my Father, when I saw you Enter, I slipt back into the next Room, where I overheard every Syllable.

Sir _Geo._ That I said--But I'll be hang'd if you heard her Answer--.

But prithee tell me, _Charles_, is she a Fool?

_Char._ I ne'er suspected her for one; but _Marplot_ can inform you better, if you'll allow him a Judge.

_Marpl._ A Fool! I'll justifie she has more Wit than all the rest of her s.e.x put together; why she'll Rally me, till I han't one word to say for my self.

_Char._ A mighty Proof of her Wit truly--

_Marpl._ There must be some Trick in't, Sir _George_; Egad I'll find it out if it cost me the Sum you paid for't.

Sir _Geo._ Do and Command me--

_Marpl._ Enough, let me alone to Trace a Secret.--

_Enter _Whisper_, and speaks aside to his Master._

The Devil! _Whisper_ here agen, that Fellow never speaks out; is this the same, or a new Secret? Sir _George_, won't you ask _Charles_ what News _Whisper_ brings?

Sir _Geo._ Not I, Sir; I suppose it does not relate to me.

_Marpl._ Lord, Lord, how little Curiosity some People have! Now my chief Pleasure lies in knowing every Body's Business.

Sir _Geo._ I fancy, _Charles_, thou hast some Engagement upon thy Hands: I have a little Business too. _Marplot_, if it falls in your way to bring me any Intelligence from _Miranda_, you'll find me at the Thatch'd House at Six--

_Marpl._ You do me much Honour.

_Char._ You guess right, Sir _George_, wish me Success.

Sir _Geo._ Better than attended me. _Adieu_.

(_Exit._

_Char._ _Marplot_, you must Excuse me.--

_Marpl._ Nay, nay, what need of any Excuse amongst Friends! I'll go with you.

_Char._ Indeed you must not.

_Marpl._ No, then I suppose 'tis a Duel, and I will go to secure ye.