ERRIC.

What voice is that; my son? What can have recalled him thus suddenly?
Some new misadventure.--Oh, my forboding thoughts!

_Enter_ HERMAN.

DERRIC.

Herman, what brings you back? Are all my cautions thus lightly regarded,
that they can take no hold upon your conduct?

HERMAN.

You have good cause for warmth, sir, but learn the reason of my
disobedience, ere you condemn. Business of importance has urged me
hither--such as concerns us both most intimately.

DERRIC.

Some fresh extravagance, no doubt, to drain my little left, and set a
host of creditors loose upon me.

HERMAN.

Not so, sir, but the reverse. List! you know our neighbour, Rip Van
Winkle?

DERRIC.

Know him? Aye, his idleness is proverbial; you have good cause to
recollect him too, since 'twas by his courage your life was preserved,
when attacked by the famished wolf.

HERMAN.

He has a daughter scarcely seven years old; now, the attorney whom I
serve has been employed to draw up the will and settle the affairs of
this girl's aunt, who, for some slight offered by Van Winkle, has long
since discarded the family. At her death, the whole of her immense
wealth, in cash and land, is the inheritance of the girl, who is, at
this moment, the richest presumptive heiress in the land.

DERRIC.

What connection can Van Winkle's fortune have with ours?

HERMAN.

Listen! Were it possible to procure his signature to a contract that his
daughter, when of age, should be married to me, on this security money
might be raised by us to any amount. Now, my good father, am I
comprehensible?

DERRIC.

Truly, this seems no visionary dream, like those in which, with fatal
pertinacity, you have so oft indulged; and, on recollection, the rent of
his tenement is in arrears; 'twill offer favourable opportunity for my
calling and sounding him; the contract must be your care.

HERMAN.

'Tis already prepared and lacks only his signature.--[_Presenting it._]
Lawyers, who would do justice to their clients, must not pause at
conscience; 'tis entirely out of the question when their own interest is
concerned.

DERRIC.

Herman, I like not this black-leg manner of proceeding: yet it augurs
thou wilt be no pettifogger. I'll to Van Winkle straight and, though not
legalized to act, yet in this case I can do work which honest lawyers
would scorn. [_Exit._

HERMAN.