Sylv. But how do you hope ever to get sight of
him ? Sir Davy's watchfulness is invincible. I dare
swear he would smell out a rival if he were in the
house, only by natural instinct ; as some that always
sweat when a cat's in the room. Then again,
Beaugard's a soldier, and that's a thing the old
gentleman, you know, loves dearly.
L. Dunce. There lies the greatest comfort of my
uneasy life ; he is one of those fools, forsooth, that

Otway. O



194 THE SOLDIER'S FORTUNE, [act i.
are led by the nose by knaves to rail against the
king and the government, and Is mightily fond of
being thought of a party. I have had hopes this
twelve-month to have heard of his being in the Gate-
house^ for treason.
Sylv. But I find only yourself the prisoner all this
while.
L. Dunce. At present indeed I am so ; but fortune
I hope will smile, wouldst thou but be my friend,
Sylvia.
Sylv. In any mischievous design, with all my heart.
L. Dunce. The conclusion, madam, may turn to
your satisfaction. But you have no thoughts of
Courtine ?

Sylv. Not I, I'll assure you, cousin.
L. Dunce. You don't think him well shaped, straight,
and proportionable ?

Siylv. Considering he eats but once a week, the man
is well enough.
L. Dunce. And then he wears his clothes, you
know, filthily, and like a horrid sloven.
