The Modern Theatre Volume 1; A Collection of Successful Modern Plays, as Acted at the Theatres Royal, London (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1811 Excerpt: ...that he's soon coming to visit her? and what with hard drinking, keeping him up all night, and making him ride break-neck fox-chaces, it's main hard if they don't bury him in a fortnight; and then, you know, Mr Gaby touches every shilling. Sir H. Tor. No, he don't. Gab. Why? Sir H. Tor. Because there's no shilling to touch, ha ha --The baronet's as poor as she is; and Mr Gaby may bury him; but, egad he must pay for the funeral. Gab. Impossible Odratten who told you this? Sir H. Tor. Himself; and, what's better, now he tells you so. 'Sir Harry Torpid, in person, informs you, that the late Mrs Decoy's over head and ears m debt; and that whoever is her husband, instead of possessing ten thousand a-year, he'll be soon peeping through the iron bars of the county gaol. Gab. (Half'crying.) County ga--ol Sir H. Tor. Yes, 'tis too true. But where is he? where is the poor devil? Before he's caged, I should like to have a peep at him. Gab. Sir--Sir Harry--I--I am he. (Crying.) Sir H. Tor. You7 Gab. (Crying louder.) Yes, I'm Gaby I'm the poor devil that's to peep through the iron bars. Rot it only think now; she talked of her family and fortune; said she'd introduce me to fashionable life, and promised to make a buck of me. Sir H. Tor. Well, and she will make a buck of you. But don't take it so to heart--don't cry so; there's a little dear--I dare say you won't be arrested these two hours. Gab. It's all my guardian's fault, all owing to his precious octavo.--And see, here he is. (Looking out.) Odrabit you how I should like to be even with you. 'Sir H. Tor. So he is--and as I live, the poor author and his daughter with him --Why, what bring him here? Gab. Why, Mr Marchmont owes me for rent, and money lent," about two hundred pounds; and so, by my guardian'...