The School For Scandal [16]
the honest Israelite.
Enter MOSES
--This is Sir Oliver.
SIR OLIVER. Sir--I understand you have lately had great dealings
with my Nephew Charles.
MOSES. Yes Sir Oliver--I have done all I could for him, but He was
ruined before He came to me for Assistance.
SIR OLIVER. That was unlucky truly--for you have had no opportunity
of showing your Talents.
MOSES. None at all--I hadn't the Pleasure of knowing his Distresses
till he was some thousands worse than nothing, till it was impossible
to add to them.
SIR OLIVER. Unfortunate indeed! but I suppose you have done all
in your Power for him honest Moses?
MOSES. Yes he knows that--This very evening I was to have brought
him a gentleman from the city who does not know him and will
I believe advance some money.
SIR PETER. What[!] one Charles has never had money from before?
MOSES. Yes[--]Mr. Premium, of Crutched Friars.
SIR PETER. Egad, Sir Oliver a Thought strikes me!--Charles you say
does'nt know Mr. Premium?
MOSES. Not at all.
SIR PETER. Now then Sir Oliver you may have a better opportunity of
satisfying yourself than by an old romancing tale of a poor Relation--
go with my friend Moses and represent Mr. Premium and then I'll answer
for't you'll see your Nephew in all his glory.
SIR OLIVER. Egad I like this Idea better than the other, and I may
visit Joseph afterwards as old Stanley.
SIR PETER. True so you may.
ROWLEY. Well this is taking Charles rather at a disadvantage, to be
sure--however Moses--you understand Sir Peter and will be faithful----
MOSES. You may depend upon me--and this is near the Time I was
to have gone.
SIR OLIVER. I'll accompany you as soon as you please, Moses----
but hold--I have forgot one thing--how the plague shall I be able
to pass for a Jew?
MOSES. There's no need--the Principal is Christian.
SIR OLIVER. Is He--I'm very sorry to hear it--but then again--
an't I rather too smartly dressed to look like a money-Lender?
SIR PETER. Not at all; 'twould not be out of character, if you
went in your own carriage--would it, Moses!
MOSES. Not in the least.
SIR OLIVER. Well--but--how must I talk[?] there's certainly some
cant of usury and mode of treating that I ought to know.
SIR PETER. Oh, there's not much to learn--the great point as I
take it is to be exorbitant enough in your Demands hey Moses?
MOSES. Yes that's very great Point.
SIR OLIVER. I'll answer for't I'll not be wanting in that--I'll
ask him eight or ten per cent. on the loan--at least.
MOSES. You'll be found out directly--if you ask him no more than
that, you'll be discovered immediately.
SIR OLIVER. Hey!--what the Plague!--how much then?
MOSES. That depends upon the Circumstances--if he appears not
very anxious for the supply, you should require only forty or
fifty per cent.--but if you find him in great Distress, and want
the monies very bad--you may ask double.
SIR PETER. A good--[h]onest Trade you're learning, Sir Oliver--
SIR OLIVER. Truly, I think so--and not unprofitable--
MOSES. Then you know--you haven't the monies yourself, but are
forced to borrow them for him of a Friend.
SIR OLIVER. O I borrow it of a Friend do I?
MOSES. And your friend is an unconscion'd Dog--but you can't help it.
SIR OLIVER. My Friend's an unconscionable Dog, is he?
MOSES. Yes--and He himself hasn't the monies by him--but is forced
to sell stock--at a great loss--
SIR OLIVER. He is forced to sell stock is he--at a great loss,
is he--well that's very kind of him--
SIR PETER. Efaith, Sir Oliver--Mr. Premium I mean--you'll soon
be master of the Trade--but, Moses would have him inquire if the
borrower is a minor--
MOSES. O yes--
SIR PETER. And in that case his Conscience will direct him--
MOSES. To have the Bond in another Name to be sure.
SIR OLIVER. Well--well I shall be perfect--
SIR PETER. But hearkee wouldn't you have him also run out a little
against the annuity Bill--that would be in character I should think--
Enter MOSES
--This is Sir Oliver.
SIR OLIVER. Sir--I understand you have lately had great dealings
with my Nephew Charles.
MOSES. Yes Sir Oliver--I have done all I could for him, but He was
ruined before He came to me for Assistance.
SIR OLIVER. That was unlucky truly--for you have had no opportunity
of showing your Talents.
MOSES. None at all--I hadn't the Pleasure of knowing his Distresses
till he was some thousands worse than nothing, till it was impossible
to add to them.
SIR OLIVER. Unfortunate indeed! but I suppose you have done all
in your Power for him honest Moses?
MOSES. Yes he knows that--This very evening I was to have brought
him a gentleman from the city who does not know him and will
I believe advance some money.
SIR PETER. What[!] one Charles has never had money from before?
MOSES. Yes[--]Mr. Premium, of Crutched Friars.
SIR PETER. Egad, Sir Oliver a Thought strikes me!--Charles you say
does'nt know Mr. Premium?
MOSES. Not at all.
SIR PETER. Now then Sir Oliver you may have a better opportunity of
satisfying yourself than by an old romancing tale of a poor Relation--
go with my friend Moses and represent Mr. Premium and then I'll answer
for't you'll see your Nephew in all his glory.
SIR OLIVER. Egad I like this Idea better than the other, and I may
visit Joseph afterwards as old Stanley.
SIR PETER. True so you may.
ROWLEY. Well this is taking Charles rather at a disadvantage, to be
sure--however Moses--you understand Sir Peter and will be faithful----
MOSES. You may depend upon me--and this is near the Time I was
to have gone.
SIR OLIVER. I'll accompany you as soon as you please, Moses----
but hold--I have forgot one thing--how the plague shall I be able
to pass for a Jew?
MOSES. There's no need--the Principal is Christian.
SIR OLIVER. Is He--I'm very sorry to hear it--but then again--
an't I rather too smartly dressed to look like a money-Lender?
SIR PETER. Not at all; 'twould not be out of character, if you
went in your own carriage--would it, Moses!
MOSES. Not in the least.
SIR OLIVER. Well--but--how must I talk[?] there's certainly some
cant of usury and mode of treating that I ought to know.
SIR PETER. Oh, there's not much to learn--the great point as I
take it is to be exorbitant enough in your Demands hey Moses?
MOSES. Yes that's very great Point.
SIR OLIVER. I'll answer for't I'll not be wanting in that--I'll
ask him eight or ten per cent. on the loan--at least.
MOSES. You'll be found out directly--if you ask him no more than
that, you'll be discovered immediately.
SIR OLIVER. Hey!--what the Plague!--how much then?
MOSES. That depends upon the Circumstances--if he appears not
very anxious for the supply, you should require only forty or
fifty per cent.--but if you find him in great Distress, and want
the monies very bad--you may ask double.
SIR PETER. A good--[h]onest Trade you're learning, Sir Oliver--
SIR OLIVER. Truly, I think so--and not unprofitable--
MOSES. Then you know--you haven't the monies yourself, but are
forced to borrow them for him of a Friend.
SIR OLIVER. O I borrow it of a Friend do I?
MOSES. And your friend is an unconscion'd Dog--but you can't help it.
SIR OLIVER. My Friend's an unconscionable Dog, is he?
MOSES. Yes--and He himself hasn't the monies by him--but is forced
to sell stock--at a great loss--
SIR OLIVER. He is forced to sell stock is he--at a great loss,
is he--well that's very kind of him--
SIR PETER. Efaith, Sir Oliver--Mr. Premium I mean--you'll soon
be master of the Trade--but, Moses would have him inquire if the
borrower is a minor--
MOSES. O yes--
SIR PETER. And in that case his Conscience will direct him--
MOSES. To have the Bond in another Name to be sure.
SIR OLIVER. Well--well I shall be perfect--
SIR PETER. But hearkee wouldn't you have him also run out a little
against the annuity Bill--that would be in character I should think--