DAVENPORT
I plead guilty.

MISS FLYN She was persuaded, that you were in a hurry going to marry her to an object of her dislike; nay, that he was actually in the house for the purpose.  The speed of her flight admitted not of her depositing the jewels; but to me, who have been her inseparable companion since she quitted your roof, she intrusted the return of them; which the precipitate measures of this gentleman (pointing to the Officer) alone prevented.  Mr. Cutlet, whom I see coming, can witness this to be true.

Enter Cutlet, in haste.

CUTLET Aye, poor lamb! poor lamb!  I can witness.  I have run in such a haste, hearing how affairs stood, that I have left my shambles without a protector.  If your worship had seen how she cried (pointing to Marian), and trembled, and insisted upon being brought to her father.  Mr. Davenport here could not stay her.

FLINT
I can forbear no longer.  Marian, will you play once again, to please
your old father?

MARIAN
I have a good mind to make you buy me a new grand piano for your naughty
suspicions of me.

DAVENPORT
What is to become of me?

FLINT
I will do more than that.  The poor lady shall have her jewels again.

MARIAN
Shall she?

FLINT
Upon reasonable terms (smiling). And now, I suppose, the court may
adjourn.

DAVENPORT
Marian!

FLINT I guess what is passing in your mind, Mr. Davenport; but you have behaved upon the whole so like a man of honour, that it will give me pleasure, if you will visit at my house for the future; but (smiling) not clandestinely, Marian.

MARIAN
Hush, father.

FLINT I own I had prejudices against gentry.  But I have met with so much candour and kindness among my betters this day—­from this gentleman in particular—­(turning to the Justice)—­that I begin to think of leaving off business, and setting up for a gentleman myself.

JUSTICE
You have the feelings of one.

FLINT
Marian will not object to it.

JUSTICE But (turning to Miss Flyn) what motive could induce this lady to take so much disgrace upon herself, when a word’s explanation might have relieved her?

MISS FLYN
This gentleman (turning to Pendulous) can explain.

PENDULOUS
The devil!

MISS FLYN
This gentleman, I repeat it, whose backwardness in concluding a long and
honourable suit from a mistaken delicacy—­

PENDULOUS
How!

MISS FLYN Drove me upon the expedient of involving myself in the same disagreeable embarrassments with himself, in the hope that a more perfect sympathy might subsist between us for the future.

PENDULOUS
I see it—­I see it all.

JUSTICE
(To Pendulous.) You were then tried at York?

PENDULOUS
I was—­CAST—­