SCENE I

_The House of Justice Headstrong--A hall--Lucy watering some myrtles--A servant behind the scenes is heard to say--_

I tell you my master is not up. You can't see him, so go about your business, I say.

_Lucy._ To whom are you speaking, William? Who's that?

_Will._ Only an old man, miss, with a complaint for my master.

_Lucy._ Oh, then, don't send him away--don't send him away.

_Will._ But master has not had his chocolate, ma'am. He won't ever see anybody before he drinks his chocolate, you know, ma'am.

_Lucy._ But let the old man, then, come in here. Perhaps he can wait a little while. Call him.

(_Exit servant._)

(_Lucy sings, and goes on watering her myrtles; the servant shows in the Old Man._)

_Will._ You can't see my master this hour; but miss will let you stay here.

_Lucy_ (_aside_). Poor old man! how he trembles as he walks. (_Aloud._) Sit down, sit down. My father will see you soon; pray sit down.

(_He hesitates; she pushes a chair towards him._)

_Lucy._ Pray sit down.

(_He sits down._)

_Old Man._ You are very good, miss; very good.

(_Lucy goes to her myrtles again._)

_Lucy._ Ah! I'm afraid this poor myrtle is quite dead--quite dead.

(_The Old Man sighs, and she turns round._)

_Lucy_ (_aside_). I wonder what can make him sigh so! (_Aloud._) My father won't make you wait long.

_Old M._ Oh, ma'am, as long as he pleases. I'm in no haste--no haste. It's only a small matter.

_Lucy._ But does a small matter make you sigh so?

_Old M._ Ah, miss; because though it is a small matter in itself, it is not a small matter to me (_sighing again_); it was my all, and I've lost it.

_Lucy._ What do you mean? What have you lost?

_Old M._ Why, miss--but I won't trouble you about it.

_Lucy._ But it won't trouble me at all--I mean, I wish to hear it; so tell it me.

_Old M._ Why, miss, I slept last night at the inn here, in town--the 'Saracen's Head'----

_Lucy_ (_interrupts him_). Hark! there is my father coming downstairs; follow me. You may tell me your story as we go along.

_Old M._ I slept at the 'Saracen's Head,' miss, and----

(_Exit talking._)