"Spat. Egad! I never was more posed: I'm sure you cannot mean that ridiculous old knight, Sir Christopher Crab?
"Lady S. A wretch! his assiduities are my torment.
"Spat. Perhaps his nephew, the baronet, Sir Benjamin Backbite, is the happy man?
"Lady S. No, though he has ill-nature, and a good person on his side, he is not to my taste. What think you of Clerimont? [Footnote: Afterwards called Florival.]
"Spat. How! the professed lover of your ward, Maria; between whom, too, there is a mutual affection.
"Lady S. Yes, that insensible, that doater on an idiot, is the man.
"Spat. But how can you hope to succeed?
"Lady S. By poisoning both with jealousy of the other, till the credulous fool, in a pique, shall be entangled in my snare.
"Spat. Have you taken any measure for it?
"Lady S. I have. Maria has made me the confidante of Clerimont's love for her: in return, I pretended to entrust her with my affection for Sir Benjamin, who is her warm admirer. By strong representation of my passion, I prevailed on her not to refuse to see Sir Benjamin, which she once promised Clerimont to do. I entreated her to plead my cause, and even drew her in to answer Sir Benjamin's letters with the same intent. Of this I have made Clerimont suspicious; but 'tis you must inflame him to the pitch I want.