Y. Book. You do me justice, madam, in that thought, for I am strangely pestered to be there. Well, the French are the most industrious people in the world. I had a letter from one of their generals, that shall be nameless (it came over by the way of Holland), with an offer of very great terms, if I would but barely send my opinion in the use of pikes, about which he tells me their Prince and generals have lately held a grand court martial.
Both. Ha! ha! ha!
Lat. These cunning things keep still together to puzzle us.—I'll alarm him.—Sir, one word——
Vict. Come, come, we'll have no whispering, no messages at present. Some other ladies have sent, but they shan't have you from us.
Both. Ha! ha! ha!
Y. Book. I hold myself obliged to be of the same humour ladies are in—ha! ha! ha! Now pray do me the favour to tell me what I laughed at.
Pen.[68] Why, you must know, your talking of the French and war put us in mind of a young coxcomb that came last night from Oxford, calls himself soldier, treats ladies, fights battles, raises jealousies with downright lies of his own inventing—ha! ha! ha!
Y. Book. That must be an impudent young rascal certainly—ha! ha! ha!
Vict. Nay, this is beyond comparison——