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by reason that she is but a poor pea-picking girl from St. Giles's, that has scarcely been a month in the country; howsomever, he gets wonderfully on with his information.

Sea. Ay, that is him: he has a talent for picking up information upon every subject, and from every body: pray let him know I am here. (Exit Land.)—(After musing a little while.) Ten thousand a-year! and the risk of failing but a mere trifle, not to be taken into the calculation. And his reasons are good, obvious, and convincing. But let me be moderate now: let me suppose that it only brings me in six thousand a-year; even that will entitle me to a peerage.

Plau. I have a request to make to you, Sir Anthony?

Sea. What is that, my dear Plausible?

Plau. When you purchase the large estate in Shropshire, will you let me have an easy lease of a good pasture farm or two upon it? It will be a country retirement for me; and I find on calculation that a hundred milk-cows, well fed and well managed, will bring in no contemptible revenue.

''Sea. (smiling.)'' You talk of this estate with great confidence, Plausible.

Plau. Nay, I am only certain of putting the money to buy it into your pocket; you will purchase it or not, as you please.

Sea. I begin, indeed, to think favourably of your scheme, and I appointed you to meet me here,