The Works of Charles and Mary Lamb Volume IV Part 62

MISS FLYN And yet I am more than half persuaded it is feasible.

_Enter Betty._

BETTY Mr. Davenport is below, ma'am, and desires to speak with you.

MARIAN You will excuse me--_(going--turning back.)_--You will remember the casket? _[Exit.]_

MISS FLYN Depend on me.

BETTY And a strange man desires to see you, ma'am. I do not half like his looks.

MISS FLYN Shew him in.

_(Exit Betty, and returns--with a Police Officer. Betty goes out.)_

OFFICER Your servant, ma'am. Your name is----

MISS FLYN Flyn, sir. Your business with me?

OFFICER _(Alternately surveying the lady and his paper of instructions.)_ Marian Flint.

MISS FLYN Maria Flyn.

OFFICER Aye, aye, Flyn or Flint. 'Tis all one. Some write plain Mary, and some put ann after it. I come about a casket.

MISS FLYN I guess the whole business. He takes me for my friend. Something may come out of this. I will humour him.

OFFICER _(Aside)_--Answers the description to a t.i.ttle. "Soft, grey eyes, pale complexion,"----

MISS FLYN Yet I have been told by flatterers that my eyes were blue--_(takes out a pocket-gla.s.s)_--I hope I look pretty tolerably to-day.

OFFICER Blue!--they are a sort of blueish-gray, now I look better; and as for colour, that comes and goes. Blushing is often a sign of a hardened offender. Do you know any thing of a casket?

MISS FLYN Here is one which a friend has just delivered to my keeping.

OFFICER And which I must beg leave to secure, together with your ladyship's person. "Garnets, pearls, diamond-bracelet,"--here they are, sure enough.

MISS FLYN Indeed, I am innocent.

OFFICER Every man is presumed so till he is found otherwise.

MISS FLYN Police wit! Have you a warrant?

OFFICER Tolerably cool that! Here it is, signed by Justice Golding, at the requisition of Reuben Flint, who deposes that you have robbed him.

MISS FLYN How lucky this turns out! _(aside.)_--Can I be indulged with a coach?

OFFICER To Marlborough Street? certainly--an old offender--_(aside.)_ The thing shall be conducted with as much delicacy as is consistent with security.

MISS FLYN Police manners! I will trust myself to your protection then. _[Exeunt.]_

SCENE.--_Police-Office._

JUSTICE, FLINT, OFFICERS, &c.

JUSTICE Before we proceed to extremities, Mr. Flint, let me entreat you to consider the consequences. What will the world say to your exposing your own child?

FLINT The world is not my friend. I belong to a profession which has long brought me acquainted with its injustice. I return scorn for scorn, and desire its censure above its plaudits.

JUSTICE But in this case delicacy must make you pause.

FLINT Delicacy--ha! ha!--p.a.w.nbroker--how fitly these words suit. Delicate p.a.w.nbroker--delicate devil--let the law take its course.

JUSTICE Consider, the jewels are found.

FLINT 'Tis not the silly baubles I regard. Are you a man? are you a father?

and think you I could stoop so low, vile as I stand here, as to make money--filthy money--of the stuff which a daughter's touch has desecrated? Deep in some pit first I would bury them.

JUSTICE Yet pause a little. Consider. An only child.

FLINT Only, only,--there, it is that stings me, makes me mad. She was the only thing I had to love me--to bear me up against the nipping injuries of the world. I prate when I should act. Bring in your prisoner.

_(The Justice makes signs to an Officer, who goes out, and returns with Miss Flyn.)_

FLINT What mockery of my sight is here? This is no daughter.

OFFICER Daughter, or no daughter, she has confessed to this casket.

FLINT _(Handling it.)_ The very same. Was it in the power of these pale splendours to dazzle the sight of honesty--to put out the regardful eye of piety and daughter-love? Why, a poor glow-worm shews more brightly.

Bear witness how I valued them--_(tramples on them)_.--Fair lady, know you aught of my child?

MISS FLYN I shall here answer no questions.

JUSTICE You must explain how you came by the jewels, madam.

MISS FLYN _(Aside.)_ Now confidence a.s.sist me!----A gentleman in the neighbourhood will answer for me----

JUSTICE His name----

MISS FLYN Pendulous----

JUSTICE That lives in the next street?