JERE. Oh, sir, for that, sir, ’tis my chief talent: I’m as secret as the head of Nilus.
TATT. Ay? Who’s he, though? A privy counsellor?
JERE. O ignorance! [_Aside_.] A cunning Egyptian, sir, that with his arms would overrun the country, yet nobody could ever find out his head-quarters.
TATT. Close dog! A good whoremaster, I warrant him:—the time draws nigh, Jeremy. Angelica will be veiled like a nun, and I must be hooded like a friar, ha, Jeremy?
JERE. Ay, sir; hooded like a hawk, to seize at first sight upon the quarry. It is the whim of my master’s madness to be so dressed, and she is so in love with him she’ll comply with anything to please him. Poor lady, I’m sure she’ll have reason to pray for me, when she finds what a happy exchange she has made, between a madman and so accomplished a gentleman.
TATT. Ay, faith, so she will, Jeremy: you’re a good friend to her, poor creature. I swear I do it hardly so much in consideration of myself as compassion to her.
JERE. ’Tis an act of charity, sir, to save a fine woman with thirty thousand pound from throwing herself away.
TATT. So ’tis, faith; I might have saved several others in my time, but, i’gad, I could never find in my heart to marry anybody before.
JERE. Well, sir, I’ll go and tell her my master’s coming, and meet you in half a quarter of an hour with your disguise at your own lodgings. You must talk a little madly: she won’t distinguish the tone of your voice.
TATT. No, no; let me alone for a counterfeit. I’ll be ready for you.
MISS. O Mr. Tattle, are you here? I’m glad I have found you; I have been looking up and down for you like anything, till I’m as tired as anything in the world.
TATT. Oh, pox, how shall I get rid of this foolish girl? [_Aside_.]
MISS. Oh, I have pure news, I can tell you, pure news. I must not marry the seaman now—my father says so. Why won’t you be my husband? You say you love me, and you won’t be my husband. And I know you may be my husband now, if you please.
TATT. Oh, fie, miss; who told you so, child?
MISS. Why, my father. I told him that you loved me.
TATT. Oh, fie, miss; why did you do so? And who told you so, child?
TATT. Oh, pox, that was yesterday, miss, that was a great while ago, child. I have been asleep since; slept a whole night, and did not so much as dream of the matter.