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Which is Mr。 Marlow？ Sir； you are heartily welcome。 It's not my way；
you see； to receive my friends with my back to the fire。 I like give them
a hearty reception in the old style at my gate。 I like to see their horses
and trunks taken care of。
MARLOW。 （Aside。） He has got our names from the servants
already。 （To him。） We approve your caution and hospitality； sir。 （To
HASTINGS。） I have been thinking； George； of changing our travelling
dresses in the morning。 I am grown confoundedly ashamed of mine。
HARDCASTLE。 I beg； Mr。 Marlow； you'll use no ceremony in this
house。
HASTINGS。 I fancy； Charles； you're right： the first blow is half the
battle。 I intend opening the campaign with the white and gold。
HARDCASTLE。 Mr。 MarlowMr。 Hastingsgentlemenpray be
under no constraint in this house。 This is Liberty…hall； gentlemen。 You
may do just as you please here。
MARLOW。 Yet； George； if we open the campaign too fiercely at first；
we may want ammunition before it is over。 I think to reserve the
embroidery to secure a retreat。
HARDCASTLE。 Your talking of a retreat； Mr。 Marlow； puts me in
mind of the Duke of Marlborough； when we went to besiege Denain。 He
first summoned the garrison
MARLOW。 Don't you think the ventre d'or waistcoat will do with
the plain brown？
HARDCASTLE。 He first summoned the garrison； which might
consist of about five thousand men
HASTINGS。 I think not： brown and yellow mix but very poorly。
HARDCASTLE。 I say； gentlemen； as I was telling you； be
summoned the garrison； which might consist of about five thousand men
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MARLOW。 The girls like finery。
HARDCASTLE。 Which might consist of about five thousand men；
well appointed with stores； ammunition； and other implements of war。
Now； says the Duke of Marlborough to George Brooks； that stood next to
himyou must have heard of George BrooksI'll pawn my dukedom； says
he； but I take that garrison without spilling a drop of blood。 So
MARLOW。 What； my good friend； if you gave us a glass of punch in
the mean time； it would help us to carry on the siege with vigour。
HARDCASTLE。 Punch； sir！ （Aside。） This is the most
unaccountable kind of modesty I ever met with。
MARLOW。 Yes； sir； punch。 A glass of warm punch； after our
journey； will be comfortable。 This is Liberty…hall； you know。
HARDCASTLE。 Here's a cup； sir。
MARLOW。 （Aside。） So this fellow； in his Liberty…hall； will only
let us have just what he pleases。
HARDCASTLE。 （Taking the cup。） I hope you'll find it to your
mind。 I have prepared it with my own hands； and I believe you'll own
the ingredients are tolerable。 Will you be so good as to pledge me； sir？
Here； Mr。 Marlow； here is to our better acquaintance。 ＇Drinks。＇
MARLOW。 （Aside。） A very impudent fellow this！ but he's a
character； and I'll humour him a little。 Sir； my service to you。 ＇Drinks。＇
HASTINGS。 （Aside。） I see this fellow wants to give us his
company； and forgets that he's an innkeeper； before he has learned to be a
gentleman。
MARLOW。 From the excellence of your cup； my old friend； I
suppose you have a good deal of business in this part of the country。
Warm work； now and then； at elections； I suppose。
HARDCASTLE。 No； sir； I have long given that work over。 Since
our betters have hit upon the expedient of electing each other； there is no
business 〃for us that sell ale。〃
HASTINGS。 So； then； you have no turn for politics； I find。
HARDCASTLE。 Not in the least。 There was a time； indeed； I
fretted myself about the mistakes of government； like other people； but
finding myself every day grow more angry； and the government growing
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no better； I left it to mend itself。 Since that； I no more trouble my head
about Hyder Ally； or Ally Cawn； than about Ally Croker。 Sir； my service
to you。
HASTINGS。 So that with eating above stairs； and drinking below；
with receiving your friends within； and amusing them without； you lead a
good pleasant bustling life of it。
HARDCASTLE。 I do stir about a great deal； that's certain。 Half the
differences of the parish are adjusted in this very parlour。
MARLOW。 （After drinking。） And you have an argument in your
cup； old gentleman； better than any in Westminster…hall。
HARDCASTLE。 Ay； young gentleman； that； and a little philosophy。
MARLOW。 （Aside。） Well； this is the first time I ever heard of an
innkeeper's philosophy。
HASTINGS。 So then； like an experienced general； you attack them
on every quarter。 If you find their reason manageable； you attack it with
your philosophy； if you find they have no reason； you attack them with
this。 Here's your health； my philosopher。 ＇Drinks。＇
HARDCASTLE。 Good； very good； thank you； ha！ ha！ Your
generalship puts me in mind of Prince Eugene； when he fought the Turks
at the battle of Belgrade。 You shall hear。
MARLOW。 Instead of the battle of Belgrade； I believe it's almost
time to talk about supper。 What has your philosophy got in the house for
supper？
HARDCASTLE。 For supper； sir！ （Aside。） Was ever such a
request to a man in his own house？
MARLOW。 Yes； sir； supper； sir； I begin to feel an appetite。 I shall
make devilish work to…night in the larder； I promise you。
HARDCASTLE。 （Aside。） Such a brazen dog sure never my eyes
beheld。 （To him。） Why； really； sir； as for supper I can't well tell。 My
Dorothy and the cook…maid settle these things between them。 I leave
these kind of things entirely to them。
MARLOW。 You do； do you？
HARDCASTLE。 Entirely。 By the bye； I believe they are in actual