SURFACE. How--you alarm me exceedingly!

SIR PETER. Ah: my dear Friend I knew you would sympathize with me.--

SURFACE. Yes--believe me Sir Peter--such a discovery would hurt me
just as much as it would you--

SIR PETER. I am convinced of it--ah--it is a happiness to have
a Friend whom one can trust even with one's Family secrets--
but have you no guess who I mean?

SURFACE. I haven't the most distant Idea--it can't be
Sir Benjamin Backbite.

SIR PETER. O--No. What say you to Charles?

SURFACE. My Brother--impossible!--O no Sir Peter you mustn't credit
the scandalous insinuations you hear--no no--Charles to be sure
has been charged with many things but go I can never think
He would meditate so gross an injury--

SIR PETER. Ah! my dear Friend--the goodness of your own Heart
misleads you--you judge of others by yourself.

SURFACE. Certainly Sir Peter--the Heart that is conscious of its own
integrity is ever slowest to credit another's Treachery.--

SIR PETER. True--but your Brother has no sentiment[--]you never hear
him talk so.--