e never saw you till to-day.

_Stra._ That you may make fools believe. Hear further: she knows too,
that I am not a common sort of man; that my heart is not to be attacked
in the usual way. She, therefore, framed a deep concerted plan. She
played a charitable part; but in such a way, that it always reached my
ears. She played a pious, modest, reserved part, in order to excite my
curiosity. And at last, to-day she plays the prude. She refuses my
forgiveness, in hopes by this generous device, to extort it from my
compassion.

_Bar._ Charles! I have listened to you with astonishment. This is a
weakness only to be pardoned in a man who has so often been deceived by
the world. Your wife has expressly and stedfastly declared, that she
will not accept your forgiveness, even if you yourself were weak enough
to offer it.

_Stra._ What then has brought you hither?

_Bar._ More than one reason. First, I am come in my own name, as your
friend and comrade, to conjure you solemnly not to spurn this creature
from you; for, by my soul, you will not find her equal.

_Stra._ Give yourself no further trouble.

_Bar._ Be candid, Charles. You love her still.

_Stra._ Alas! yes.

_Bar._ Her sincere repentance has long since obliterated her crime.

_Stra._ Sir! a wife, once induced to forfeit her honour, must be capable
of a second crime.

_Bar._ Not so, Charles. Ask your heart what portion of the blame may be
your own.

_Stra._ Mine!

_Bar._ Yours. Who told you to marry a thoughtless inexperienced girl?
One scarce expects established principles at five-and-twenty in a man,
yet you require them in a girl of sixteen! But of this no more. She has
erred; she has repented; and, during three years, her conduct has been
so far above reproach, that even the piercing eye of calumny has not
discovered a speck upon this radiant orb.

_Stra._ Now, were I to believe all this--and I confess that I would
willingly believe it--yet can she never again be mine. [_With extreme
asperity._] Oh! what a feast would it be for the painted dolls and
vermin of the world, when I appeared among them with my runaway wife
upon my arm! What mocking, whispering, pointing!--Never! Never! Never!

_Bar._ Enough! As a friend I have done my duty: I now appear as
Adelaide's ambassador. She requests one moment's conversation. She
wishes once again to see you, and never more! You cannot deny her this,
this only, this last, request.

_Stra._ Oh! I understand this