(to Mrs. O'Reilly)
Have you lost much?
MRS. O'REILLY
Everything -- my purse, containing upwards of a hundred guineas, my jewels, my snuff-boxes, watches. And all because this blundering coward fell to his knees...
FOOTMAN
Be fair, ma'am, them wasn't so much. Didn't he return you the thirteen pence in copper, and the watch, saying it was only pinchbeck?
MRS. O'REILLY
Don't be insolent, or I'll report you to the Captain.
FOOTMAN
Sorry, ma'am.
He shuffles a few steps away and frowns in the direction that the Captain has vanished.
MRS. O'REILLY
That fool didn't know what was the meaning of a hundred-pound bill, which was in the pocket-book that the fellow took from me.
RODERICK
I am riding to Dublin myself, and if your ladyship will allow me the honor of riding with you, I shall do my best to protect you from further mishap.
MRS. O'REILLY
But I shouldn't like to put you to such trouble, Mister... ?
RODERICK
O'Higgins... Mohawk O'Higgins.
They stop at the inn.
RODERICK
(very gallantly)
As you have been robbed of your purse, may I have permission to lend your ladyship a couple of pieces to pay any expenses which you might incur before reaching your home?
MRS. O'REILLY
(smiling)
That's very kind of you, Mr. O'Higgins.
He gives her two gold pieces.
Roderick and Mrs. O'Reilly finishing their meal. We will hear dialogue underneath Roderick's voice over.
RODERICK (V.O.)
How different was her lively rattle to the vulgar wenches at Kilwangan assemblies. In every sentence, she mentioned a lord or a person of quality. To the lady's question about my birth and parentage, I replied that I was a young gentleman of large fortune, that I was going to Dublin for my studies, and that my mother allowed me five hundred per annum.
MRS. O'REILLY
You must be very cautious with regard to the company you should meet in Dublin, where rogues and adventurers of all countries abound. I hope you will do me the honor of accepting lodgings in my own house, where Captain O'Reilly will welcome with delight, my gallant young preserver.
Paying the bill.
RODERICK (V.O.)
Perhaps had I been a little older in the world's experience, I should have begun to see that Madame O'Reilly was not the person of fashion she pretended to be; but, as it was, I took all her stories for truth, and, when the landlord brought the bill for dinner, paid it with the air of a lord. Indeed, she made no motion to produce the two pieces I had lent her.
They ride by.
RODERICK (V.O.)
And so we rode on slowly towards Dublin, into which city we made our entrance at nightfall. The rattle and splendor of the coaches, the flare of the linkboys, the number and magnificence of the houses, struck me with the greatest wonder; though I was careful to disguise this feeling.
RODERICK (V.O.)
We stopped at length at a house of rather mean appearance, and were let into a passage which had a great smell of supper and punch.
Captain O'Reilly, a stout red-faced man, without a periwig, and in a rather tattered nightgown and cap.
Roderick and Mrs. O'Reilly.
CAPTAIN O'REILLY
Mr. O'Higgins, I cannot say how grateful I am for your timely assistance to my wife.
RODERICK
I am only sorry that I was unable to prevent the villain from carrying off all her ladyship's money and pearls.
CAPTAIN O'REILLY
Mr. O'Higgins, we are in your debt, and rest assured, sir, you have friends in this house whenever you are in Dublin.
(pours a glass)