Lewis. If you accuse me of all this, Madam, you are unjust, and I must speak.
Mrs. D. Speak, Sir.
Lewis. What I do, I will freely confess, is not so much for Mr. Drave as for your and Augusta's sake. His abuse of my property, his secret plans to undo one brother by the other—that, Madam, that hurts me.—With respect to what has happened, God be my witness, that I had not the smallest presentiment of it. I am frail, and I have erred; yet I hope I now atone for my fault.
Mrs. D. This requires an answer. My husband, who placed this sum with the most respectable house in the city, in order to provide a better fortune for his prodigal ward—who, unsolicited, in order to secure this ward from all accidents, gave security to the amount of all he was worth, and who now makes it good with the loss of all his fortune—he is an honest man.
Lewis [astonished]. Gave security?
Mrs. D. [not attending to him]. A perverted mind may misinterpret his actions. Kindnesses bestowed on the ungrateful will one day have their reward.—A man like my Drave can lay his hand on his heart, and look with hope to the day when he shall appear before his Almighty Judge; he can, amidst all his losses, despise such a wretched thing as this—[She tears the paper in two, and drops it on the ground].
Lewis. I am astonished. Mr. Drave gave security?
Mrs. D. He did.
Lewis. That, Madam, was entirely unknown to me.
Mrs. D. Henceforth we have nothing to say to each other; but, before we part, let me remember one thing—You once made a serious application to me concerning my daughter.