he would never have done).
_Philip._ You know the hand writing?
_Chancellor_ [folds up the paper with a forced laugh].
_Philip._ Laugh thyself to convulsions, if thou canst.
_Chancellor._ Take care, Sir! take care! [Going.
_Philip_ [stopping him]. I must look thee in the face once more. Thou
art a distinguished villain--Thou hast raised thyself by complicated
knavery, from the dust, to exalted power. Thy soul was the price, and
thou hast paid it.--Under the mask of religion thou hast been the
scourge of many a noble and honest heart.--Now, behold me!--Without
blood, without intrigue, armed only with a just cause, I have levelled
thee with thy original dust. Go; and if thou seriously believest in a
strict trial to come--repent, repent, before the gates of Eternity
close upon thy dark spirit for ever. [Exit Chancellor in manifest
confusion.
_Rose._ Then it is true!
_Philip._ Our Minister has observed him with attention; he has long
suspected--I have given the blow--his fall is inevitable.
_Lewis_ [enters hastily, and embraces Philip]. Oh, my dear brother!
_Philip._ My dear Lewis!
_Rose_ [tenderly]. Would you not have it so? Drave?
_Drave._ Yes, yes.
_Lewis._ I am sensible of my faults, and exerted all my efforts to
repair the mischief I had occasioned: but my brother alone was worthy,
by his virtues, to restore the happiness I had destroyed. Oh, Drave, my
father, much-injured father! my mother--Augusta, my Augusta, can you
forgive? Can repentance----
_Philip._ Drave, he is my brother, and his heart is good.
_Lewis._ Oh, forgive--deny me not this----Augusta, my tutelary angel.
_Drave_ [taking Augusta's hand]. Lewis, I believe your repentance
sincere. Yet, dear as my daughter is, you will not wonder that I should
refuse to resign her to you, till I shall see reason to be satisfied
that you are entirely reformed. I confess, however, that I do not feel
disposed to put your patience to a very long trial. Those downcast
eyes, and this trembling hand, convince me that my decision will be
approved. Take it then, Lewis, [giving him Augusta's hand] and live
with the hope, I might say the certainty, that I shall shortly bestow
it on you for ever.
_Lewis._ Oh, my father! it is more than I deserved, or could have dared
to hope--never will I give you cause to repent of your confidence.
_Drave_ [leading Augusta to Rose]. Rose, I give you a daughter, who
shall console you in your old-age! [To the old
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