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against you. Will you deny this promise of marriage in your own hand-writing? (Taking out a paper.)

''Roy. (Aside to'' Opal.) What, a promise of marriage, Mr. Opal? The devil himself could not have put it into your head to do a worse thing than this.

Op. (Very frightened, but making a great exertion.) Dont think, ma am, to bully me into the match. I can prove that promise to be given to you under the false character of an heiress, therefore your deceit loosens the obligation.

With. Take care what you say, sir, (to Opal,) I will not see my niece wronged. The law shall do her justice, whatever expence it may cost me.

Mar. Being an heiress or not has nothing to do in the matter, Mr. Opal; for you expressly say in this promise, that my beauty and perfections alone have induced you to engage yourself, and I will take all the men in court to witness, whether I am not as handsome to-day as I was yesterday.

Op. I protest there is not such a word in the paper.

Mar. (Holding out the paper.) O base man! will you deny your own writing? (Opal snatches the paper from her, tears it to pieces.)

Mar. (Gathering up the scattered pieces.) O! I can put them together again. (Opal, snatching up one of the pieces, crams it into his mouth and chews it.)

Roy. Chew fast. Opal, she will snatch it out