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Dart. Excuse me, Sir; I must needs say, had you even paid a little attention to the Countess herself, when she first renewed her intimacy with the Baron, she would have been less anxious, perhaps, to estrange him from his old friends.

Walt. Attention to her! I could not have done it to gain myself, like Mahomet, the entrance to the seventh heaven. I must tell people plainly what I think of them, though I should hang for it.

Dart. Had you said starve for it, you had named the fate that more commonly attends plain speaking.

Ant. And in telling people disagreeable truths to gratify your own humour too, are you surprised, my good Sir, that they should not be edified thereby?

Walt. (to Ant.) What, young Soldier, you are become a plain speaker too.

Ant. Just to shew you, Sir, how agreeable it is.

Walt. Ha, ha, ha! Well; thou hast the better of me now. Would thou could'st prate as briskly to thy mistress! that would do more for thee in one hour than all thy bashful tenderness in a year.

Ant. I might—I should indeed—I defend not my weakness.—You promised on this point to spare me.

Walt. Aye, the very sound of her name quells