musical voices, and become nonsense better.

MEL. Why, they are at the end of the gallery; retired to their tea
and scandal, according to their ancient custom, after dinner. But I
made a pretence to follow you, because I had something to say to you
in private, and I am not like to have many opportunities this
evening.

CARE. And here's this coxcomb most critically come to interrupt
you.


SCENE II.


[To them] BRISK.

BRISK. Boys, boys, lads, where are you? What, do you give ground?
Mortgage for a bottle, ha? Careless, this is your trick; you're
always spoiling company by leaving it.

CARE. And thou art always spoiling company by coming in o't.

BRISK. Pooh, ha, ha, ha, I know you envy me. Spite, proud spite,
by the gods! and burning envy. I'll be judged by Mellefont here,
who gives and takes raillery better than you or I. Pshaw, man, when
I say you spoil company by leaving it, I mean you leave nobody for
the company to laugh at. I think there I was with you. Ha,
Mellefont?