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MEL。 Let him alone； Brisk； he is obstinately bent not to be
instructed。
BRISK。 I'm sorry for him； the deuce take me。
MEL。 Shall we go to the ladies； my lord？
LORD FROTH。 With all my heart； methinks we are a solitude
without 'em。
MEL。 Or what say you to another bottle of champagne？
LORD FROTH。 Oh； for the universe not a drop more； I beseech you。
Oh； intemperate！ I have a flushing in my face already。 ＇Takes out a
pocket…glass and looks in it。＇
BRISK。 Let me see； let me see； my lord； I broke my glass that was in
the lid of my snuff…box。 Hum！ Deuce take me； I have encouraged a
pimple here too。 ＇Takes the glass and looks。＇
LORD FROTH。 Then you must mortify him with a patch； my wife
shall supply you。 Come； gentlemen； ALLONS； here is company coming。
SCENE VI。
LADY TOUCHWOOD and MASKWELL。
LADY TOUCH。 I'll hear no more。 You are false and ungrateful；
come； I know you false。
MASK。 I have been frail； I confess； madam； for your ladyship's
service。
LADY TOUCH。 That I should trust a man whom I had known betray
his friend！
MASK。 What friend have I betrayed？ or to whom？
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LADY TOUCH。 Your fond friend Mellefont； and to me； can you
deny it？
MASK。 I do not。
LADY TOUCH。 Have you not wronged my lord； who has been a
father to you in your wants； and given you being？ Have you not
wronged him in the highest manner； in his bed？
MASK。 With your ladyship's help； and for your service； as I told you
before。 I can't deny that neither。 Anything more； madam？
LADY TOUCH。 More！ Audacious villain！ Oh； what's more； is
most my shame。 Have you not dishonoured me？
MASK。 No； that I deny； for I never told in all my life： so that
accusation's answered； on to the next。
LADY TOUCH。 Death； do you dally with my passion？ Insolent
devil！ But have a care；provoke me not； for； by the eternal fire； you shall
not 'scape my vengeance。 Calm villain！ How unconcerned he stands；
confessing treachery and ingratitude！ Is there a vice more black？ Oh； I
have excuses thousands for my faults； fire in my temper； passions in my
soul； apt to ev'ry provocation； oppressed at once with love； and with
despair。 But a sedate； a thinking villain； whose black blood runs
temperately bad； what excuse can clear？
MASK。 Will you be in temper； madam？ I would not talk not to be
heard。 I have been ＇she walks about disordered＇ a very great rogue for
your sake； and you reproach me with it； I am ready to be a rogue still； to
do you service； and you are flinging conscience and honour in my face； to
rebate my inclinations。 How am I to behave myself？ You know I am
your creature； my life and fortune in your power； to disoblige you brings
me certain ruin。 Allow it I would betray you； I would not be a traitor to
myself： I don't pretend to honesty； because you know I am a rascal； but I
would convince you from the necessity of my being firm to you。
LADY TOUCH。 Necessity； impudence！ Can no gratitude incline
you； no obligations touch you？ Have not my fortune and my person been
subjected to your pleasure？ Were you not in the nature of a servant； and
have not I in effect made you lord of all； of me； and of my lord？ Where
is that humble love； the languishing； that adoration； which once was paid
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THE DOUBLE…DEALERA COMEDY
me； and everlastingly engaged？
MASK。 Fixt； rooted in my heart； whence nothing can remove 'em；
yet you …
LADY TOUCH。 Yet； what yet？
MASK。 Nay； misconceive me not； madam； when I say I have had a
gen'rous and a faithful passion； which you had never favoured； but through
revenge and policy。
LADY TOUCH。 Ha！
MASK。 Look you； madam； we are alone；pray contain yourself and
hear me。 You know you loved your nephew when I first sighed for you； I
quickly found it： an argument that I loved； for with that art you veiled
your passion 'twas imperceptible to all but jealous eyes。 This discovery
made me bold； I confess it； for by it I thought you in my power。 Your
nephew's scorn of you added to my hopes； I watched the occasion； and
took you； just repulsed by him； warm at once with love and indignation；
your disposition； my arguments； and happy opportunity accomplished my
design； I pressed the yielding minute； and was blest。 How I have loved
you since； words have not shown； then how should words express？
LADY TOUCH。 Well； mollifying devil！ And have I not met your
love with forward fire？
MASK。 Your zeal； I grant； was ardent； but misplaced； there was
revenge in view； that woman's idol had defiled the temple of the god； and
love was made a mock…worship。 A son and heir would have edged young
Mellefont upon the brink of ruin； and left him none but you to catch at for
prevention。
LADY TOUCH。 Again provoke me！ Do you wind me like a larum；
only to rouse my own stilled soul for your diversion？ Confusion！
MASK。 Nay； madam； I'm gone； if you relapse。 What needs this？
I say nothing but what you yourself； in open hours of love； have told me。
Why should you deny it？ Nay； how can you？ Is not all this present heat
owing to the same fire？ Do you not love him still？ How have I this day
offended you； but in not breaking off his match with Cynthia？ which； ere
to…morrow； shall be done； had you but patience。
LADY TOUCH。 How； what said you； Maskwell？ Another caprice
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THE DOUBLE…DEALERA COMEDY
to unwind my temper？
MASK。 By heav'n； no； I am your slave； the slave of all your
pleasures； and will not rest till I have given you peace； would you suffer
me。
LADY TOUCH。 O Maskwell！ in vain I do disguise me from thee；
thou know'st me； knowe