"He to love an altar built   Of twelve vast French romances, neatly gilt.
  There lay three garters, half a pair of gloves,
  And all the trophies of his former loves;
  With tender billet-doux he lights the pyre,
  And breathes three amorous sighs to raise the fire;
  Then prostrate falls, and begs with ardent eyes
  Soon to obtain, and long possess the prize."
DRAMATIS PERSONÆ
 
MR. ERWYN, a gentleman of the town, ceremonious and a
    coxcomb, but a man of honor.
LADY ALLONBY, a woman of fashion, and widow to
    Lord Stephen Allonby.
MISS ALLONBY, daughter to Lord Stephen by a former
    marriage, of a considerable fortune in her own hands.
FOOTMEN to Lady Allonby; and in the Proem FRANCIS
    ORTS, commonly know as FRANCIS VANBINGHAM, a
    dissolute play-actor.
SCENE
 
A drawing-room In Lady Allonby's villa at Tunbridge Wells.
LOVE AT MARTINMAS
 
PROEM:—To be Filed for Reference Hereafter
 
Lady Allonby followed in all respects the Vicar's instructions; and midnight found her upon the pier of Bishops Onslow, Colonel Denstroude's big and dilapidated country-residence. Frank Orts had assisted her from the rowboat without speaking; indeed, he had uttered scarcely a word, save to issue some necessary direction, since the woman first came to him at the Vicarage with her news of the night's events. Now he composedly stepped back into the boat.
 
"You've only to go forward," said Frank Orts. "I regret that for my own part I'm no longer an acceptable visitor here, since the Colonel and I fought last summer over one Molly Yates. Nay, I beseech you, put up your purse, my Lady."
 
"Then I can but render you my heartfelt thanks," replied Lady Allonby, "and incessantly remember you in daily prayers for the two gallant men who have this night saved a woman from great misery. Yet there is that in your voice which is curiously familiar, Mr. Orts, and I think that somewhere you and I have met before this."
 
"Ay,............