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describing to me the shortness of your stay； rather if you please； defer the
finishing of your wit； and let us talk about our business； it shall be tithes in
your way。
SAYGRACE。 ＇Enters。＇ You shall prevail： I would break off in
the middle of a sermon to do you a pleasure。
MASK。 You could not do me a greater；except the business in hand。
Have you provided a habit for Mellefont？
SAYGRACE。 I have； they are ready in my chamber； together with a
clean starched band and cuffs。
MASK。 Good； let them be carried to him； have you stitched the
gown sleeve； that he may be puzzled； and waste time in putting it on？
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SAYGRACE。 I have： the gown will not be indued without
perplexity。
MASK。 Meet me in half…an…hour； here in your own chamber。 When
Cynthia comes； let there be no light； and do not speak； that she may not
distinguish you from Mellefont。 I'll urge haste to excuse your silence。
SAYGRACE。 You have no more commands？
MASK。 None： your text is short。
SAYGRACE。 But pithy： and I will handle it with discretion。
MASK。 It will be the first you have so served。
SCENE XIII。
LORD TOUCHWOOD； MASKWELL。
LORD TOUCH。 Sure I was born to be controlled by those I should
command。 My very slaves will shortly give me rules how I shall govern
them。
MASK。 I am concerned to see your lordship discomposed。
LORD TOUCH。 Have you seen my wife lately； or disobliged her？
MASK。 No； my lord。 What can this mean？ ＇Aside。＇
LORD TOUCH。 Then Mellefont has urged somebody to incense her。
Something she has heard of you which carries her beyond the bounds of
patience。
MASK。 This I feared。 ＇Aside。＇ Did not your lordship tell her of
the honours you designed me？
LORD TOUCH。 Yes。
MASK。 'Tis that； you know my lady has a high spirit； she thinks I
am unworthy。
LORD TOUCH。 Unworthy！ 'Tis an ignorant pride in her to think
so。 Honesty to me is true nobility。 However； 'tis my will it shall be so；
and that should be convincing to her as much as reason。 By Heaven； I'll
not be wife…ridden； were it possible； it should be done this night。
MASK。 By Heaven； he meets my wishes！ ＇Aside。＇ Few things
are impossible to willing minds。
LORD TOUCH。 Instruct me how this may be done； you shall see I
want no inclination。
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MASK。 I had laid a small design for to…morrow （as love will be
inventing） which I thought to communicate to your lordship。 But it may
be as well done to…night。
LORD TOUCH。 Here's company。 Come this way and tell me。
SCENE XIV。
CARELESS and CYNTHIA。
CARE。 Is not that he now gone out with my lord？
CYNT。 Yes。
CARE。 By heaven； there's treachery。 The confusion that I saw your
father in； my Lady Touchwood's passion； with what imperfectly I
overheard between my lord and her； confirm me in my fears。 Where's
Mellefont？
CYNT。 Here he comes。
SCENE XV。
＇To them＇ MELLEFONT。
CYNT。 Did Maskwell tell you anything of the chaplain's chamber？
MEL。 No。 My dear； will you get ready？ The things are all in my
chamber； I want nothing but the habit。
CARE。 You are betrayed； and Maskwell is the villain I always
thought him。
CYNT。 When you were gone； he said his mind was changed； and bid
me meet him in the chaplain's room； pretending immediately to follow you
and give you notice。
MEL。 How？
CARE。 There's Saygrace tripping by with a bundle under his arm。
He cannot be ignorant that Maskwell means to use his chamber； let's
follow and examine him。
MEL。 'Tis loss of time； I cannot think him false。
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SCENE XVI。
CYNTHIA； LORD TOUCHWOOD。
CYNT。 My lord musing！
LORD TOUCH。 He has a quick invention； if this were suddenly
designed。 Yet he says he had prepared my chaplain already。
CYNT。 How's this？ Now I fear indeed。
LORD TOUCH。 Cynthia here！ Alone； fair cousin； and
melancholy？
CYNT。 Your lordship was thoughtful。
LORD TOUCH。 My thoughts were on serious business not worth
your hearing。
CYNT。 Mine were on treachery concerning you； and may be worth
your hearing。
LORD TOUCH。 Treachery concerning me？ Pray be plain。 Hark！
What noise？
MASK。 （within） Will you not hear me？
LADY TOUCH。 （within） No； monster！ traitor！ No。 CYNT。
My lady and Maskwell！ This may be lucky。 My lord； let me entreat
you to stand behind this screen and listen： perhaps this chance may give
you proof of what you ne'er could have believed from my suspicions。
SCENE XVII。
LADY TOUCHWOOD with a dagger； MASKWELL； CYNTHIA
and LORD TOUCHWOOD abscond； listening。
LADY TOUCH。 You want but leisure to invent fresh falsehood； and
soothe me to a fond belief of all your fictions： but I will stab the lie that's
forming in your heart； and save a sin； in pity to your soul。
MASK。 Strike then； since you will have it so。
LADY TOUCH。 Ha！ A steady villain to the last。
MASK。 Come； why do you dally with me thus？
LADY TOUCH。 Thy stubborn temper shocks me； and you knew it
would； this is cunning all； and not courage。 No； I know thee well； but
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thou shalt miss thy aim。
MASK。 Ha； ha； ha！
LADY TOUCH。 Ha！ Do you mock my rage？ Then this shall
punish your fond； rash contempt。 Again smile！ ＇Goes to strike。＇ And
such a smile as speaks in ambiguity！ Ten thousand meanings lurk in each
corner of that various face。
Oh！ that they were written in thy heart； T