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MASK。 I would not have you stay to hear it now； for I don't know
but she may come this way。 I am to meet her anon； after that； I'll tell you
the whole matter。 Be here in this gallery an hour hence； by that time I
imagine our consultation may be over。
MEL。 I will； till then success attend thee。
SCENE VIII。
MASKWELL alone。
Till then； success will attend me； for when I meet you； I meet the only
obstacle to my fortune。 Cynthia； let thy beauty gild my crimes； and
whatsoever I commit of treachery or deceit； shall be imputed to me as a
merit。 Treachery？ What treachery？ Love cancels all the bonds of
friendship； and sets men right upon their first foundations。
Duty to kings； piety to parents； gratitude to benefactors； and fidelity to
friends； are different and particular ties。 But the name of rival cuts 'em
all asunder； and is a general acquittance。 Rival is equal； and love like death
an universal leveller of mankind。 Ha！ But is there not such a thing as
honesty？ Yes； and whosoever has it about him； bears an enemy in his
breast。 For your honest man； as I take it； is that nice； scrupulous；
conscientious person； who will cheat nobody but himself； such another
coxcomb as your wise man； who is too hard for all the world； and will be
made a fool of by nobody but himself； ha； ha； ha。 Well； for wisdom and
honesty give me cunning and hypocrisy； oh； 'tis such a pleasure to angle
for fair…faced fools！ Then that hungry gudgeon credulity will bite at
anything。 Why； let me see； I have the same face； the same words and
accents when I speak what I do think； and when I speak what I do not
think； the very same； and dear dissimulation is the only art not to be
known from nature。
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Why will mankind be fools； and be deceived； And why are friends'
and lovers' oaths believed； When each； who searches strictly his own mind；
May so much fraud and power of baseness find？
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THE DOUBLE…DEALERA COMEDY
ACT III。
SCENE I。
LORD TOUCHWOOD and LADY TOUCHWOOD。
LADY TOUCH。 My lord； can you blame my brother Plyant if he
refuse his daughter upon this provocation？ The contract's void by this
unheard…of impiety。
LORD TOUCH。 I don't believe it true； he has better principles。 Pho；
'tis nonsense。 Come； come； I know my Lady Plyant has a large eye； and
would centre everything in her own circle； 'tis not the first time she has
mistaken respect for love； and made Sir Paul jealous of the civility of an
undesigning person； the better to bespeak his security in her unfeigned
pleasures。
LADY TOUCH。 You censure hardly； my lord； my sister's honour is
very well known。
LORD TOUCH。 Yes； I believe I know some that have been
familiarly acquainted with it。 This is a little trick wrought by some
pitiful contriver； envious of my nephew's merit。
LADY TOUCH。 Nay； my lord； it may be so； and I hope it will be
found so。 But that will require some time； for in such a case as this；
demonstration is necessary。
LORD TOUCH。 There should have been demonstration of the
contrary too； before it had been believed。
LADY TOUCH。 So I suppose there was。
LORD TOUCH。 How？ Where？ When？
LADY TOUCH。 That I can't tell； nay； I don't say there was。 I am
willing to believe as favourably of my nephew as I can。
LORD TOUCH。 I don't know that。 ＇Half aside。＇
LADY TOUCH。 How？ Don't you believe that； say you； my lord？
LORD TOUCH。 No； I don't say so。 I confess I am troubled to find
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THE DOUBLE…DEALERA COMEDY
you so cold in his defence。
LADY TOUCH。 His defence！ Bless me； would you have me
defend an ill thing？
LORD TOUCH。 You believe it； then？
LADY TOUCH。 I don't know； I am very unwilling to speak my
thoughts in anything that may be to my cousin's disadvantage： besides； I
find； my lord； you are prepared to receive an ill impression from any
opinion of mine which is not consenting with your own。 But； since I am
like to be suspected in the end； and 'tis a pain any longer to dissemble； I
own it to you； in short I do believe it； nay； and can believe anything worse；
if it were laid to his charge。 Don't ask me my reasons； my lord； for they are
not fit to be told you。
LORD TOUCH。 I'm amazed： there must be something more than
ordinary in this。 ＇Aside。＇ Not fit to be told me； madam？ You can have
no interests wherein I am not concerned； and consequently the same
reasons ought to be convincing to me； which create your satisfaction or
disquiet。
LADY TOUCH。 But those which cause my disquiet I am willing to
have remote from your hearing。 Good my lord； don't press me。
LORD TOUCH。 Don't oblige me to press you。
LADY TOUCH。 Whatever it was； 'tis past。 And that is better to be
unknown which cannot be prevented； therefore let me beg you to rest
satisfied。
LORD TOUCH。 When you have told me； I will。
LADY TOUCH。 You won't。
LORD TOUCH。 By my life； my dear； I will。
LADY TOUCH。 What if you can't？
LORD TOUCH。 How？ Then I must know； nay； I will。 No more
trifling。 I charge you tell me。 By all our mutual peace to come； upon
your duty …
LADY TOUCH。 Nay； my lord； you need say no more； to make me
lay my heart before you； but don't be thus transported； compose yourself。
It is not of concern to make you lose one minute's temper。 'Tis not；
indeed； my dear。 Nay； by this kiss you shan't be angry。 O Lord； I wish I
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