Myr. O! Madam! I have such a terrible story to tell you!
Moth. A story! ods my life! what have you done with the Count's note of five hundred pounds I sent you about? is it safe? is it good? is it security?
Myr. Yes, yes, it is safe: but for its goodness——mercy on us! I have been in a fair way to be hang'd about it.
Moth. The dickens! has the rogue of a Count play'd us another trick then?
Myr. You shall hear, Madam; when I came to Mr. Cash, the Banker's, and shewed him his note for five hundred pounds, payable to the Count, or order, in two months—he looked earnestly upon it, and desired me to step into the inner room, while he examined his books——after I had staid about ten minutes, he came in to me——claps to the door, and charges me with a constable for forgery.
Moth. Ah poor soul! and how didst thou get off?
Myr. While I was ready to sink in this condition, I begg'd him to have a little patience, 'till I could send for Mr. Manly, whom he knew to be a gentleman of worth and honour, and who, I was sure, would convince him, whatever fraud might be in the note, that I was myself an innocent abus'd woman——and as good luck would have it, in less than half an hour Mr. Manly came——so, without mincing the matter, I fairly told him upon what design the Count had lodg'd that note in your hands, and in short, laid open the whole scheme he had drawn us into, to make our fortune.
Moth. The devil you did!
Myr. Why how do you think it was possible I could any otherwise make Mr. Manly my friend, to help me out of the scrape I was in? To conclude, he soon made Mr. Cash easy, and sent away the Constable; nay farther promis'd me, if I would trust the note in his hands, he would take care it should be be fully paid before it was due, and at the same time would give me an ample revenge upon the Count; so that all you have to consider now, Madam, is, whether you think yourself safer in the Count's hands, or Mr. Manly's.
Moth. Nay, nay, child; there is no choice in the matter! Mr. Manly may be a friend indeed, if any thing in our power can make him so.