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70 WILLIAM CONGREVE [ACT III
Bluffe. You have given him a note upon Fondlewife for
a hundred pounds.
Sir Jo. Ay, ay, poor fellow, he ventured fair for't.
Bluffe. You have disobliged me in it, for I have occasion
for the money, and if you would look me in the face again
and live, go, and force him to re-deliver you the note. Go,
and bring it me hither: I'll stay here for you.
Sir Jo. You may stay 'till the day of judgment then: by
the Lord Harry, I know better things than to be run
through the guts for a hundred pounds.—Why, I gave that
hundred pounds for being saved, and d'ye think, an there
were no danger, I'll be so ungrateful to take it from the
gentleman again?
Bluffe. Well, go to him from me.—Tell him, I say he
must refund, or Bilbo's 5 the word, and slaughter will ensue:
—if he refuse, tell him—but whisper that—tell him—I'll
pink his soul—but whisper that softly to him.
Sir Jo. So softly that he shall never hear on't, I warrant
you.—Why, what a devil's the matter, bully, are you mad?
or d'ye think I'm mad? Egad, for my part, I don't love to
be the messenger of ill news: 'tis an ungrateful office—so
tell him yourself.
Bluffe. By these hilts, I believe he frightened you into this
composition! I believe you gave it him out of fear, pure,
paltry fear—confess.
Sir Jo. No, no, hang't; I was not afraid neither—though
I confess he did in a manner snap me up—yet I can't say
that it was altogether out of fear, but partly to prevent mischief—for
he was a devilish choleric fellow: and if my
choler had been up too, egad, there would have been mischief
done, that's flat. And yet I believe if you had been by,
I would as soon have let him a' had a hundred of my teeth.
Adsheart, if he should come just now when I'm angry, I'd
tell him—mum.
Enter BELLMOUR, and SHARPER.
Bell. Thou'rt a lucky rogue; there's your benefactor; you
ought to return him thanks now you have received the
favour.
Sharp. Sir Joseph, your note was accepted, and the money
paid at sight: I'm come to return my thanks.
Sir Jo. They won't be accepted so readily as the bill, sir.
5 A Spanish sword, so named from Bilbao, the place of its manufacture.