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penetrating head； and knows how to interpret a coldness the right way；
therefore I must dissemble ardour and ecstasy； that's resolved。 How
easily and pleasantly is that dissembled before fruition！ Pox on't that a
man can't drink without quenching his thirst。 Ha！ yonder comes
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Mellefont； thoughtful。 Let me think。 Meet her at eighthumha！ By
heav'n I have it。If I can speak to my lord before。 Was it my brain or
providence？ No matter whichI will deceive 'em all； and yet secure
myself。 'Twas a lucky thought！ Well； this double…dealing is a jewel。
Here he comes； now for me。 ＇MASKWELL； pretending not to see him；
walks by him； and speaks as it were to himself。＇
SCENE IV。
＇To him＇ MELLEFONT； musing。
MASK。 Mercy on us； what will the wickedness of this world come
to？
MEL。 How now； Jack？ What； so full of contemplation that you run
over？
MASK。 I'm glad you're come； for I could not contain myself any
longer； and was just going to give vent to a secret； which nobody but you
ought to drink down。 Your aunt's just gone from hence。
MEL。 And having trusted thee with the secrets of her soul； thou art
villainously bent to discover 'em all to me； ha？
MASK。 I'm afraid my frailty leans that way。 But I don't know
whether I can in honour discover 'em all。
MEL。 All； all； man！ What； you may in honour betray her as far as
she betrays herself。 No tragical design upon my person； I hope。
MASK。 No； but it's a comical design upon mine。
MEL。 What dost thou mean？
MASK。 Listen and be dumb； we have been bargaining about the rate
of your ruin …
MEL。 Like any two guardians to an orphan heiress。 Well？
MASK。 And whereas pleasure is generally paid with mischief； what
mischief I do is to be paid with pleasure。
MEL。 So when you've swallowed the potion you sweeten your
mouth with a plum。
MASK。 You are merry； sir； but I shall probe your constitution。 In
short； the price of your banishment is to be paid with the person of …
MEL。 Of Cynthia and her fortune。 Why； you forget you told me
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THE DOUBLE…DEALERA COMEDY
this before。
MASK。 No； no。 So far you are right； and I am； as an earnest of that
bargain； to have full and free possession of the person of your aunt。
MEL。 Ha！ Pho； you trifle。
MASK。 By this light； I'm serious； all raillery apart。 I knew 'twould
stun you。 This evening at eight she will receive me in her bedchamber。
MEL。 Hell and the devil； is she abandoned of all grace？ Why； the
woman is possessed。
MASK。 Well； will you go in my stead？
MEL。 By heav'n； into a hot furnace sooner。
MASK。 No； you would not； it would not be so convenient； as I can
order matters。
MEL。 What d'ye mean？
MASK。 Mean？ Not to disappoint the lady； I assure you。 Ha； ha；
ha； how gravely he looks。 Come； come； I won't perplex you。 'Tis the
only thing that providence could have contrived to make me capable of
serving you； either to my inclination or your own necessity。
MEL。 How； how； for heav'n's sake； dear Maskwell？
MASK。 Why； thus。 I'll go according to appointment； you shall
have notice at the critical minute to come and surprise your aunt and me
together。 Counterfeit a rage against me； and I'll make my escape through
the private passage from her chamber； which I'll take care to leave open。
'Twill be hard if then you can't bring her to any conditions。 For this
discovery will disarm her of all defence； and leave her entirely at your
mercynay； she must ever after be in awe of you。
MEL。 Let me adore thee； my better genius！ By heav'n I think it is
not in the power of fate to disappoint my hopesmy hopes？ My
certainty！
MASK。 Well； I'll meet you here； within a quarter of eight； and give
you notice。
MEL。 Good fortune ever go along with thee。
SCENE V。
MELLEFONT； CARELESS。
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CARE。 Mellefont； get out o' th' way； my Lady Plyant's coming； and I
shall never succeed while thou art in sight。 Though she begins to tack
about； but I made love a great while to no purpose。
MEL。 Why； what's the matter？ She's convinced that I don't care for
her。
CARE。 I can't get an answer from her； that does not begin with her
honour； or her virtue； her religion； or some such cant。 Then she has told
me the whole history of Sir Paul's nine years courtship； how he has lain
for whole nights together upon the stairs before her chamber…door； and
that the first favour he received from her was a piece of an old scarlet
petticoat for a stomacher； which since the day of his marriage he has out of
a piece of gallantry converted into a night…cap； and wears it still with much
solemnity on his anniversary wedding…night。
MEL。 That I have seen； with the ceremony thereunto belonging。
For on that night he creeps in at the bed's feet like a gulled bassa that has
married a relation of the Grand Signior； and that night he has his arms at
liberty。 Did not she tell you at what a distance she keeps him？ He has
confessed to me that； but at some certain times； that is； I suppose； when
she apprehends being with child； he never has the privilege of using the
familiarity of a husband with a wife。 He was once given to scrambling
with his hands； and sprawling in his sleep； and ever since she has him
swaddled up in blankets； and his hands and feet swathed down； and so put
to bed； and there he lies with a great beard； like a Russian bear upon a drift
of snow。 You are very great with him； I wonder he never told you his
grievances： he will； I warrant you。
CARE。 Excessively foolish！ But that which gives me most hopes
of her is her telling me of the many temptations she ha