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Show 28 The London Merchant: Or, Tr Since fuch he was, and was m y Friend, can I fup. port his Lofs ? See the faireft and happieft M a n this wealthy City bop.lts, kindly condefcends to weep for thy unhappy Fate, poor ruin'd Barr.well. Ma. Trueman, D o you think a Soul lo delicate as his fo fenfible of Shame, can e'er fubmit to live a SkVe to Vice? Tr. Never, never. So well I knew him, I'm fure this Act of his, fo contrary to his Nature, mull have been caufed by fome unavoidable NeccfTity. Ma. Is there no Means to preferve him ' Tr. O ! that there were. But few M e n recover Reputations loft, a Merchant never. Nor wou'd hef fear, tho' I fhould find him, ever be brought to look his injur'd Mafter in the Face. Ma. I fear as much, and therefore wou'd nerer have m y Father know it. Tr. That's imprflible. Ma. What's the Sum I Tr. 'Tis conftderable; I've mark'd it here, to fhew it, with the Letter, to your Father at his Return. Ma. If I fhould fuppiy the Money, could you fo dif. pofe of that, and the Account, as to conceal this unhap. py Mifmanagemevtfrom m y Father ? Tr. Nothing more eafy. But can you intend it? Will you fave a helplefs Wretch from Ruin? Oh lit were an Adl worthy fuch exalted Virtue as Maria's. - Sure Heaven, in Mercy to m y Friend, infpir'd the generous Thought. Ma. Doubt not but I would purchafe fo great an Ffrp-pinefs, at a much dearer Price ; but h o w fhall he be found ? Tr. Truft to m y Diligence for that. In the mean time I'll c©nceal his Abfence from your Father, or find fuch Excufe for it, that the real Caufe fhall never k fufpedfed. Ma. In attempting to <ave from Shame, one whom we hope may yet return to Virtue, to Heaven, and you, the only Witneifes of this Action, I appeal whether, I do any thing misbehaving ray Sex and Character* ft The London Merohant: Or, *9 Tr Earth muft approve the Deed, a*d Heaven, I Vi£s kmels fullied by Suspicion's 1 ghteft Breath ; Itherefore, as this muft be a Secret from m y Father, ISd the World, lor Barnwell fake, for mine let * £ fo to him. *• SCENE 1L A Room in Millwood'; Houfe. Enter Lucy and Blunt. Lucy. Well, what do you think of Millwood's Conduct now ? Blunt. I own it is firprizing: I don't know which to admire moll, her feign'd or his real Paftion ; though I have fometimes been afraid, that her Avarice would di£ cover her ; but his Youth, and want of Experience, make it the eaner to impofe on him. Lucy. No, it is his Love. T o do him Juftice, not-withftanding his Youth, be don't want Under Handing; but you M e n are much eafierimpos'd on, in thefe Affairs than your Vanity will allow you to believe. Let m e fee the wifeft of you all, as much in Love with me, as Barn-well' » with Millwood, and I'll engage to make as great a rool of him. ° Blunt And all Circumftances confldered, to make as much Money of him too ? ' a* Lucy. I can't anfwer to that. Her ArtiGrt* m w . n ~. •ffilSLX" y°U afe t0 C°nfider' <hat tbe Money Lvy. There Was the Difficulty of ir W«* ;» u. •., own, it had been nothing w' I' I?,* lt btei* h « done |