JUSTICE MERTON Are you merciless?
DICKON And such a living portrait of your worship! The waistcoat is so beautifully executed.
JUSTICE MERTON If I pay him ten thousand pounds— [Enter Micah.]
MICAH Minister Dodge, your worship; and Mistress Dodge. [Exit. Enter the Minister and his Wife.]
JUSTICE MERTON [Stepping forward to receive them.] Believe me, this is a great privilege.—Madam! [Bowing.]
MINISTER DODGE [Taking his hand.] The privilege is ours, Justice; to enter a righteous man’s house is to stand, as it were, on God’s threshold.
JUSTICE MERTON [Nervously.] Amen, amen. Permit me—ah! Lord Ravensbane, my young guest of honour, will be here directly—permit me to present his lordship’s tutor, Master Dickonson; The Reverend Master Dodge, Mistress Dodge.
MINISTER DODGE [Offering his hand.] Master Dickonson, sir—
DICKON [Barely touching the minister’s fingers, bows charmingly to his wife.] Madam, of all professions in the world, your husband’s most allures me.
MISTRESS DODGE ’Tis a worthy one, sir.