Page:Passions 2.pdf/435

Rh

seven thousand a year! (smiling to himself.) Ay, that would be a resting place at which I could put up my horses and say, I have done enough. A baronet of Great Britain, and seven thousand a year!

Lady S. (looking up from her paper.) A baronet of Great Britain you will soon be; this day's post, I trust, will inform you of that honour being conferred upon you; but the seven thousand a year, I wish we were as sure of having that added to it.

Sea. I wish we were; but Mr. Plausible has been with me last night, and has pointed out a way to me, in which, by venturing a considerable capital on very small risk, a most prodigious gain might be made; and in which, money laid out—

Lady S. (interrupting him eagerly.) Will never return any more! (getting up alarmed.) Pray, pray, my dear Seabright, don't frighten me! The very idea of such a scheme will throw me into a fit.—Don't let that man enter the house any more—he is a dark-eyed, needy-looking man—don't let him come here any more.

Sea. Why what alarms you so much? he is a very uncommon man, and a man of genius.

Lady S. Keep him out of the house then, for heaven's sake! there is never any good got by admitting men of genius; and you may keep them all out of your house, I'm sure, without being very inhospitable.

Sea. Your over-caution will be a clog upon my fortune