The Stranger | Page 6

H. You know, sir, I'm not much given to jesting.
Sol. Peter!--Good lack-a-day!--His Right Honourable Excellency Count
Wintersen, and her Right Honourable Excellency the Countess
Wintersen, and his Honourable Lordship Baron Steinfort--And, Lord
have mercy! nothing in proper order!--Here, Peter! Peter!
Enter PETER.

Pet. Well, now; what's the matter again?
Sol. Call all the house together directly! Send to the game keeper; tell
him to bring some venison. Tell Rebecca to uncase the furniture, and
take the covering from the Venetian looking glasses, that her Right
Honourable Ladyship the Countess may look at her gracious
countenance: and tell the cook to let me see him without loss of time:
and tell John to catch a brace or two of carp. And tell--and tell--and
tell--tell Frederick to friz my Sunday wig.--Mercy on
us!--Tell--There--Go!-- [Exit PETER.] Heavens and earth! so little of
the new furnishing of this old castle is completed!--Where are we to put
his Honourable Lordship the Baron?
Mrs. H. Let him have the little chamber at the head of the stairs; it is a
neat room, and commands a beautiful prospect.
Sol. Very right, very right. But that room has always been occupied by
the Count's private secretary. Suppose!--Hold, I have it. You know the
little lodge at the end of the park: we can thrust the secretary into that.
Mrs. H. You forget, Mr. Solomon; you told me that the Stranger lived
there.
Sol. Pshaw! What have we to do with the Stranger?--Who told him to
live there?--He must turn out.
Mrs. H. That would be unjust; for you said, that you let the dwelling to
him, and by your own account he pays well for it.
Sol. He does, he does. But nobody knows who he is. The devil himself
can't make him out. To be sure, I lately received a letter from Spain,
which informed me that a spy had taken up his abode in this country,
and from the description--
Mrs. H. A spy! Ridiculous! Every thing I have heard bespeaks him to
be a man, who may be allowed to dwell any where. His life is solitude
and silence.

Sol. So it is.
Mrs. H. You tell me too he does much good.
Sol. That he does.
Mrs. H. He hurts nothing; not the worm in his way.
Sol. That he does not.
Mrs. H. He troubles no one.
Sol. True! true!
Mrs. H. Well, what do you want more?
Sol. I want to know who he is. If the man would only converse a little,
one might have an opportunity of pumping; but if one meets him in the
lime walk, or by the river, it is nothing but--"Good morrow;"--and off
he marches. Once or twice I have contrived to edge in a word--"Fine
day."--"Yes."--"Taking a little exercise, I perceive."--"Yes:"--and off
again like a shot. The devil take such close fellows, say I. And, like
master like man; not a syllable do I know of that mumps his servant,
except that his name is Francis.
Mrs. H. You are putting yourself into a passion, and quite forget who
are expected.
Sol. So I do--Mercy on us!--There now, you see what misfortunes arise
from not knowing people.
Mrs. H. 'Tis near twelve o'clock already! If his lordship has stolen an
hour from his usual sleep, the family must soon be here. I go to my
duty; you will attend to yours, Mr. Solomon. [Exit.
Sol. Yes, I'll look after my duty, never fear. There goes another of the
same class. Nobody knows who she is again. However, thus much I do
know of her, that her Right Honourable Ladyship the Countess, all at
once, popped her into the house, like a blot of ink upon a sheet of paper.

But why, wherefore, or for what reason, not a soul can tell.--"She is to
manage the family within doors." She to manage! Fire and faggots!
Haven't I managed every thing within and without, most reputably,
these twenty years? I must own I grow a little old, and she does take a
deal of pains: but all this she learned of me. When she first came
here--Mercy on us! she didn't know that linen was made of flax. But
what was to be expected from one who has no foreign correspondence.
[Exit.

ACT THE SECOND.
SCENE I.
A Drawing Room in the Castle, with a Piano Forte, Harp, Music,
Bookstand, Sofas, Chairs, Tables, &c.
Enter SOLOMON.
Sol. Well, for once I think I have the advantage of Madam Haller. Such
a dance have I provided to welcome their Excellencies, and she quite
out of the the secret! And such a hornpipe by the little Brunette! I'll
have a rehearsal first though, and then surprise their honours after
dinner.
[Flourish of rural music without.
Pet. [Without.] Stop; not yet,