Fontainbleau Part 8

_Colonel E._ Sacre Dieu! he did not--Zounds--Damme!

_Tall._ [_To the COLONEL._] Yes; but he's such a shot, he'd snuff a candle on your head!

_Colonel E._ Sir, I vill snuff my head myself; and I vill snuff my nose myself, in spite of any body.

[_Takes Snuff in a hasty manner._

_Lack._ Colonel, without offence to your nose, lend me your little finger.

_Tall._ Do, he'll give it you again.

_Colonel E._ [_Shaking Hands with LACKLAND._] Ah, I see he is de true Englishman; for he has de courage to fight, and de good nature to forgive.--Mr. Lackland, vill you dine vid me to-morrow?

_Lack._ Dine! my dear fellow, I'll breakfast with you--I'll stay a whole month in your house.

_Colonel E._ [_With Joy._] Indeed!

_Tall._ Yes, and you'll find it cursed hard to get him out of it, he's so friendly.

_Colonel E._ [_To LACKLAND._] Gi' me your hand--You're a most hospitable fellow! Zounds! Damme!

_Lack._ Oh, pray, Tallyho, isn't that your sister Celia?

_Tall._ [_Looking._] Yes, that's sister Celia.

_Lack._ Haven't seen her some time--A fine girl, indeed!

_Tall._ I wish I'd left her behind, in Paris.--Badger'd--pestered with petticoats, when one has their betts and their business to mind.

_Colonel E._ I vill vait on de lady.

_Lack._ Yes, we'll all wait on the lady.--I shall engage her hand at the ball to-night.

_Tall._ Lackland, be quiet: she has a fortune.

_Lack._ Well, has her money spoiled her dancing?

_Tall._ No; but I am her guardian, Master Emperor.

_Lack._ Ha! ha! ha! then, by Heaven! I'll attack Miss Buffalo, or what is that--the grocer's----

_Tall._ What, then you have thrust your copper face into Sir John Bull's family?

_Lack._ Bull! ay, I thought it was some beast or other.

_Colonel E._ Oh, my Lady de Bull--Oh, dat is she, dat is recommend to me by a n.o.ble duke in Paris.

_Tall._ The daughter Doll is a fine filly--We start for matrimony, on our return to Paris.

_Lack._ After dinner, I'll challenge him in pint b.u.mpers of Casey's burgundy.

_Colonel E._ And I sall shake an elbow, and set de merry caster.

_Tall._ Very well, very well, gentlemen, have at you both--yoicks--hurrah!

AIR.--TALLYHO.

_I'm yours at any sort of fun, My buck, I'll tell you so; A main to fight, a nag to run, But say the word, 'tis done and done, All's one to Tallyho._

_Upon a single card I'll set A thousand pound, or so.

But name the thing, I'll bind the bet, And, if I lose, I'll scorn to fret; All's one to Tallyho._

_Suppose you challenge in a gla.s.s, Sweet Doll, my pretty Doe; And think your love could mine surpa.s.s, I'd swallow hogsheads, for my la.s.s, All's one to Tallyho._

[Exeunt.

_Enter CELIA, calling after them._

_Celia._ Brother! why, brother! was there ever such a mad mortal!

Lud, I wish he'd left me in Paris. I wish I hadn't left England--Fontainbleau!--better to have shone on the Steyne, at Brighton--Bless me! I wish I had only one dear beau, if but to keep me out o'the way o'the coaches--talk of French gallantry, and attention to the ladies! I protest, we've quite spoiled them--No, I find I have no chance here, while rivalled by Eclipse, Gimcrack, and Whirligig--Now, if love would but throw the handsome officer in my way, that entertained me so agreeably at the Sunday opera, at Paris.

_Enter HENRY and ROSA._

_Henry._ [_Seeing CELIA._] Yes, 'tis she, 'tis my charming unknown.

[_Aside._

_Celia._ Is that lady with him? [_ROSA takes HENRY'S Arm._] takes him by the arm!--I wonder women haven't some regard to decency, in public!

[_Exit, singing._

_Rosa._ [_Agitated, and looking about._] If Lord Winlove follows me,--death to him, or my brother, must be the consequence. [_Aside._]

Henry, if you design to take me to the convent to-night, we shall be too late--the gate's shut at vespers.

_Henry._ [_Looking after CELIA,_] 'Sdeath, if I lose her now, difficult, perhaps, to meet again--and, if I quit Rosa, she'll----

_Enter LAPOCHE._

_Lap._ Ah, Mademoiselle Rosa! I'm glad you have escape from dat cruel rogue of a--[_HENRY turns._] my dear friend, I am so overjoice I overtake a you--I did vash you all over dis great horse field--I did ask a for you all de littel jockeyboy, and I vas vip, and push, and kick, and tump about, from dis a post, to dat a post--

_Henry._ Well, pray what did you want with me?

_Lep._ Only in your hurry, I did forget to give you de receipt for your lodging money.