The Libertine Page #2

for something you wrote seven years ago.

You can 't be promising for ever George

Sooner or later you must do something

But that's what l'm saying.

l have written a new play.

Oh.

Written a new play has he?

All those afternoons he was pretending to slope

off and roger his mistress like a decent chap,

he was lurking in his rooms,

poking away at a play.

That is disgusting, George.

Disgusting and shameful.

What's it about, your play?

A satire on Dryden ?

Pox o' Dryden . lt's about you .

And in your play, do you tell the truth about me?

- Well, l've attempted to show you ...

- Yes?

- Well, l enjoy your company.

- You've made me endearing.

- Well, only the public can ...

- Don 't smarm around, George.

You're an endearing sort of...chap.

So, you haven 't told the truth.

Good.

We don 't want to go frightening people.

Now, how about a real play?

The Duke's have the new Otway.

Oh, l have high hopes of young Tom Otway.

Let me finish him off, sir.

This fellow is my servant. He has just filched

two shillings from my coat pocket.

A thief and a rogue.

My lord you express i

Haven 't quite got the hang of the reign yet,

have you?

- l will not employ a thief.

- Then l will.

- How much was your master paying you?

- Six shillings a week, sir.

Who talks of thieving?

George, give him 5.

Buy a brown livery and report to me

at the Duke's Theatre.

He will steal your gold.

I hope so.

lf he turned honest after coming into my orbit,

then l am not the malicious planet l had hoped.

Now begone, sir.

- And er...how will your lordship be paying?

- Credit.

l only use coin vulgarised with the monarch's

head for transactions with servants.

l am ever your humble servant.

No, Mr Ratcliffe,

you are the very prince of drapery.

The prince is always happy

to see the King's head.

But not to carry i around in his pocket

Credit then .

Billy.

Join us.

Johnny.

This is Billy Downs

Billy this is the Earl of Rochester

How old are you , Mr Downs?

1 8, my lord.

Young man , you will die of this company.

Do not laugh. l'm serious.

Mr Ratcliffe, this hangs very well.

My lord, l saw you

just now with the gent's servant.

Did you think l dispensed wisely in the matter?

lf the fool run off with the gold,

then you prove a point, but at your loss.

lf he return in your livery, then you've gained

a servant who is a known cheat.

So you prove a different point,

but again at your own expense.

You summarise well, Mr Downs.

And in such a manner,

l deduce you were trained

at one of the ''count the angels on a pinhead''

Cambridge colleges.

King's, was it not?

lt was, my lord.

King's, yes.

And yet you do not draw

the moral of the incident.

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