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surprise。 Why； I don't know anything at all； nor I don't know whether
there be anything at all in the world； or no。
LADY PLYANT。 I thought I should try you； false man。 I； that
never dissembled in my life； yet to make trial of you； pretended to like that
monster of iniquity； Careless； and found out that contrivance to let you see
this letter； which now I find was of your own inditingI do； heathen； I do。
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See my face no more； I'll be divorced presently。
SIR PAUL。 O strange； what will become of me？ I'm so amazed；
and so overjoyed； so afraid； and so sorry。 But did you give me this letter
on purpose； he？ Did you？
LADY PLYANT。 Did I？ Do you doubt me； Turk； Saracen？ I have
a cousin that's a proctor in the Commons； I'll go to him instantly。
SIR PAUL。 Hold； stay； I beseech your ladyship。 I'm so overjoyed；
stay； I'll confess all。
LADY PLYANT。 What will you confess； Jew？
SIR PAUL。 Why； now； as I hope to be saved； I had no hand in this
letternay； hear me； I beseech your ladyship。 The devil take me now if
he did not go beyond my commission。 If I desired him to do any more
than speak a good word only just for me； gads…bud； only for poor Sir Paul；
I'm an Anabaptist； or a Jew； or what you please to call me。
LADY PLYANT。 Why； is not here matter of fact？
SIR PAUL。 Ay； but by your own virtue and continency that matter of
fact is all his own doing。 I confess I had a great desire to have some
honours conferred upon me； which lie all in your ladyship's breast； and he
being a well…spoken man； I desired him to intercede for me。
LADY PLYANT。 Did you so？ presumption！ Oh； he comes； the
Tarquin comes； I cannot bear his sight。
SCENE XI。
CARELESS； SIR PAUL。
CARE。 Sir Paul； I'm glad I've met with you； 'gad； I have said all I
could； but can't prevail。 Then my friendship to you has carried me a little
farther in this matter。
SIR PAUL。 Indeed； well sir； I'll dissemble with him a little。 ＇Aside。＇
CARE。 Why； faith I have in my time known honest gentlemen
abused by a pretended coyness in their wives； and I had a mind to try my
lady's virtue。 And when I could not prevail for you； gad； I pretended to
be in love myself； but all in vain； she would not hear a word upon that
subject。 Then I writ a letter to her； I don't know what effects that will
have； but I'll be sure to tell you when I do； though by this light I believe
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her virtue is impregnable。
SIR PAUL。 O Providence！ Providence！ What discoveries are
here made？ Why； this is better and more miraculous than the rest。
CARE。 What do you mean？
SIR PAUL。 I can't tell you； I'm so overjoyed； come along with me to
my lady； I can't contain myself； come； my dear friend。
CARE。 So； so； so； this difficulty's over。 ＇Aside。＇
SCENE XII。
MELLEFONT； MASKWELL； from different doors。
MEL。 Maskwell！ I have been looking for you'tis within a quarter
of eight。
MASK。 My lady is just gone into my lord's closet； you had best steal
into her chamber before she comes； and lie concealed there； otherwise she
may lock the door when we are together； and you not easily get in to
surprise us。
MEL。 He？ You say true。
MASK。 You had best make haste； for after she has made some
apology to the company for her own and my lord's absence all this while；
she'll retire to her chamber instantly。
MEL。 I go this moment。 Now； fortune； I defy thee。
SCENE XIII。
MASKWELL alone。
MASK。 I confess you may be allowed to be secure in your own
opinion； the appearance is very fair； but I have an after…game to play that
shall turn the tables； and here comes the man that I must manage。
SCENE XIV。
＇To him＇ LORD TOUCHWOOD。
LORD TOUCH。 Maskwell； you are the man I wished to meet。
MASK。 I am happy to be in the way of your lordship's commands。
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LORD TOUCH。 I have always found you prudent and careful in
anything that has concerned me or my family。
MASK。 I were a villain else。 I am bound by duty and gratitude；
and my own inclination； to be ever your lordship's servant。
LORD TOUCH。 Enough。 You are my friend； I know it。 Yet there
has been a thing in your knowledge； which has concerned me nearly； that
you have concealed from me。
MASK。 My lord！
LORD TOUCH。 Nay； I excuse your friendship to my unnatural
nephew thus far。 But I know you have been privy to his impious designs
upon my wife。 This evening she has told me all。 Her good nature
concealed it as long as was possible； but he perseveres so in villainy； that
she has told me even you were weary of dissuading him； though you have
once actually hindered him from forcing her。
MASK。 I am sorry； my lord； I can't make you an answer； this is an
occasion in which I would not willing be silent。
LORD TOUCH。 I know you would excuse himand I know as well
that you can't。
MASK。 Indeed I was in hopes it had been a youthful heat that might
have soon boiled over； but …
LORD TOUCH。 Say on。
MASK。 I have nothing more to say； my lord； but to express my
concern； for I think his frenzy increases daily。
LORD TOUCH。 How！ Give me but proof of it； ocular proof； that I
may justify my dealing with him to the world； and share my fortunes。
MASK。 O my lord！ consider； that is hard。 Besides； time may work
upon him。 Then； for me to do it！ I have professed an everlasting
friendship to him。
LORD TOUCH。 He is your friend； and what am I？
MASK。 I am answered。
LORD TOUCH。 Fear not his displeasure； I will put you out of his；
and fortune's power； and for that thou art scrupulously honest； I wil