按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
wife？
LADY TOUCH。 Oh！ Torture！
SIR PAUL。 Gads…bud； I can't find her high nor low； where can she
be； think you？
LADY TOUCH。 Where she's serving you； as all your sex ought to be
served； making you a beast。 Don't you know you're a fool； brother？
SIR PAUL。 A fool； he； he； he； you're merry。 No； no； not I； I know
no such matter。
LADY TOUCH。 Why； then； you don't know half your happiness。
SIR PAUL。 That's a jest with all my heart； faith and troth。 But
harkee； my lord told me something of a revolution of things； I don't know
what to make on't。 Gads…bud； I must consult my wife：… he talks of
disinheriting his nephew； and I don't know what。 Look you； sister； I must
know what my girl has to trust to； or not a syllable of a wedding； gads…
75
… Page 76…
THE DOUBLE…DEALERA COMEDY
bud！to show you that I am not a fool。
LADY TOUCH。 Hear me： consent to the breaking off this
marriage； and the promoting any other without consulting me； and I'll
renounce all blood； all relation and concern with you for ever； nay； I'll be
your enemy； and pursue you to destruction： I'll tear your eyes out； and
tread you under my feet。
SIR PAUL。 Why； what's the matter now？ Good Lord； what's all
this for？ Pooh； here's a joke indeed。 Why； where's my wife？
LADY TOUCH。 With Careless； in the close arbour； he may want
you by this time； as much as you want her。
SIR PAUL。 Oh； if she be with Mr。 Careless； 'tis well enough。
LADY TOUCH。 Fool； sot； insensible ox！ But remember what I
said to you； or you had better eat your own horns； by this light you had。
SIR PAUL。 You're a passionate woman； gads…bud！ But to say truth
all our family are choleric； I am the only peaceable person amongst 'em。
SCENE IX。
MELLEFONT； MASKWELL； and CYNTHIA。
MEL。 I know no other way but this he has proposed： if you have
love enough to run the venture。
CYNT。 I don't know whether I have love enough； but I find I have
obstinacy enough to pursue whatever I have once resolved； and a true
female courage to oppose anything that resists my will； though 'twere
reason itself。
MASK。 That's right。 Well； I'll secure the writings and run the
hazard along with you。
CYNT。 But how can the coach and six horses be got ready without
suspicion？
MASK。 Leave it to my care； that shall be so far from being
suspected； that it shall be got ready by my lord's own order。
MEL。 How？
MASK。 Why； I intend to tell my lord the whole matter of our
contrivance； that's my way。
MEL。 I don't understand you。
76
… Page 77…
THE DOUBLE…DEALERA COMEDY
MASK。 Why； I'll tell my lord I laid this plot with you on purpose to
betray you； and that which put me upon it； was the finding it impossible to
gain the lady any other way； but in the hopes of her marrying you。
MEL。 So。
MASK。 So； why so； while you're busied in making yourself ready；
I'll wheedle her into the coach； and instead of you； borrow my lord's
chaplain； and so run away with her myself。
MEL。 Oh； I conceive you； you'll tell him so。
MASK。 Tell him so！ ay； why； you don't think I mean to do so？
MEL。 No； no； ha； ha； I dare swear thou wilt not。
MASK。 Therefore； for our farther security； I would have you
disguised like a parson； that if my lord should have curiosity to peep； he
may not discover you in the coach； but think the cheat is carried on as he
would have it。
MEL。 Excellent Maskwell！ Thou wert certainly meant for a
statesman or a Jesuit； but thou art too honest for one； and too pious for the
other。
MASK。 Well； get yourself ready； and meet me in half…an…hour；
yonder in my lady's dressing…room； go by the back stairs； and so we may
slip down without being observed。 I'll send the chaplain to you with his
robes： I have made him my own； and ordered him to meet us to…morrow
morning at St。 Albans； there we will sum up this account； to all our
satisfactions。
MEL。 Should I begin to thank or praise thee； I should waste the little
time we have。
SCENE X。
CYNTHIA； MASKWELL
MASK。 Madam； you will be ready？
CYNT。 I will be punctual to the minute。 ＇Going。＇
MASK。 Stay； I have a doubt。 Upon second thoughts； we had better
meet in the chaplain's chamber here； the corner chamber at this end of the
gallery； there is a back way into it； so that you need not come through this
door； and a pair of private stairs leading down to the stables。 It will be
77
… Page 78…
THE DOUBLE…DEALERA COMEDY
more convenient。
CYNT。 I am guided by you； but Mellefont will mistake。
MASK。 No； no； I'll after him immediately； and tell him。
CYNT。 I will not fail。
SCENE XI。
MASKWELL alone。
MASK。 Why； QUI VULT DECIPI DECIPIATUR。'Tis no fault of
mine： I have told 'em in plain terms how easy 'tis for me to cheat 'em；
and if they will not hear the serpent's hiss； they must be stung into
experience and future caution。 Now to prepare my lord to consent to this。
But first I must instruct my little Levite； there is no plot； public or private；
that can expect to prosper without one of them has a finger in't： he
promised me to be within at this hour；Mr。 Saygrace； Mr。 Saygrace！
＇Goes to the chamber door and knocks。＇
SCENE XII。
MASKWELL； SAYGRACE。
SAYGRACE ＇looking out。＇ Sweet sir； I will but pen the last line of
an acrostic； and be with you in the twinkling of an ejaculation； in the
pronouncing of an Amen； or before you can …
MASK。 Nay； good Mr。 Saygrace； do not prolong the time by
describing to me the shortness of your stay； rather if you please； defer the
finishing of your wit； and let us talk about our