the double-dealer(两面派)-第24章
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THE DOUBLE…DEALERA COMEDY
MASK。 I； that had wantoned in the rich circle of your world of love；
could be confined within the puny province of a girl？ No。 Yet though I
dote on each last favour more than all the rest； though I would give a limb
for every look you cheaply throw away on any other object of your love：
yet so far I prize your pleasures o'er my own； that all this seeming plot that
I have laid has been to gratify your taste and cheat the world； to prove a
faithful rogue to you。
LADY TOUCH。 If this were true。 But how can it be？
MASK。 I have so contrived that Mellefont will presently； in the
chaplain's habit； wait for Cynthia in your dressing…room； but I have put the
change upon her； that she may be other where employed。 Do you
procure her night…gown； and with your hoods tied over your face； meet
him in her stead。 You may go privately by the back stairs； and；
unperceived； there you may propose to reinstate him in his uncle's favour；
if he'll comply with your desireshis case is desperate； and I believe he'll
yield to any conditions。 If not here； take this； you may employ it better
than in the heart of one who is nothing when not yours。 ＇Gives the
dagger。＇
LADY TOUCH。 Thou can'st deceive everybody。 Nay； thou hast
deceived me； but 'tis as I would wish。 Trusty villain！ I could worship
thee。 MASK。 No more； it wants but a few minutes of the time； and
Mellefont's love will carry him there before his hour。
LADY TOUCH。 I go； I fly； incomparable Maskwell！
SCENE XVIII。
MASKWELL； CYNTHIA； LORD TOUCHWOOD。
MASK。 So； this was a pinch indeed； my invention was upon the rack；
and made discovery of her last plot。 I hope Cynthia and my chaplain will
be ready； I'll prepare for the expedition。
SCENE XIX。
CYNTHIA and LORD TOUCHWOOD。
CYNT。 Now； my lord？
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THE DOUBLE…DEALERA COMEDY
LORD TOUCH。 Astonishment binds up my rage！ Villainy upon
villainy！ Heavens； what a long track of dark deceit has this discovered！ I
am confounded when I look back； and want a clue to guide me through the
various mazes of unheard…of treachery。 My wife！ Damnation！ My
hell！
CYNT。 My lord； have patience； and be sensible how great our
happiness is； that this discovery was not made too late。
LORD TOUCH。 I thank you； yet it may be still too late； if we don't
presently prevent the execution of their plots；ha； I'll do't。 Where's
Mellefont； my poor injured nephew？ How shall I make him ample
satisfaction？
CYNT。 I dare answer for him。
LORD TOUCH。 I do him fresh wrong to question his forgiveness；
for I know him to be all goodness。 Yet my wife！ Damn her：… she'll
think to meet him in that dressing…room。 Was't not so？ And Maskwell
will expect you in the chaplain's chamber。 For once； I'll add my plot
too：… let us haste to find out； and inform my nephew； and do you； quickly
as you can； bring all the company into this gallery。 I'll expose the
strumpet； and the villain。
SCENE XX。
LORD FROTH and SIR PAUL。
LORD FROTH。 By heavens； I have slept an age。 Sir Paul； what
o'clock is't？ Past eight； on my conscience； my lady's is the most inviting
couch； and a slumber there is the prettiest amusement！ But where's all
the company？
SIR PAUL。 The company； gads…bud； I don't know； my lord； but
here's the strangest revolution； all turned topsy turvy； as I hope for
providence。
LORD FROTH。 O heavens； what's the matter？ Where's my wife？
SIR PAUL。 All turned topsy turvy as sure as a gun。
LORD FROTH。 How do you mean？ My wife？
SIR PAUL。 The strangest posture of affairs！
LORD FROTH。 What； my wife？
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SIR PAUL。 No； no； I mean the family。 Your lady's affairs may be
in a very good posture； I saw her go into the garden with Mr。 Brisk。
LORD FROTH。 How？ Where； when； what to do？
SIR PAUL。 I suppose they have been laying their heads together。
LORD FROTH。 How？
SIR PAUL。 Nay； only about poetry； I suppose； my lord； making
couplets。
LORD FROTH。 Couplets。
SIR PAUL。 Oh； here they come。
SCENE XXI。
＇To them＇ LADY FROTH； BRISK。
BRISK。 My lord； your humble servant； Sir Paul； yours；the finest
night！
LADY FROTH。 My dear； Mr。 Brisk and I have been star…gazing； I
don't know how long。
SIR PAUL。 Does it not tire your ladyship？ Are not you weary with
looking up？
LADY FROTH。 Oh； no； I love it violently。 My dear； you're
melancholy。
LORD FROTH。 No； my dear； I'm but just awake。
LADY FROTH。 Snuff some of my spirit of hartshorn。
LORD FROTH。 I've some of my own； thank you； dear。
LADY FROTH。 Well； I swear； Mr。 Brisk； you understood astronomy
like an old Egyptian。
BRISK。 Not comparably to your ladyship； you are the very Cynthia
of the skies； and queen of stars。
LADY FROTH。 That's because I have no light but what's by
reflection from you； who are the sun。
BRISK。 Madam； you have eclipsed me quite； let me perish。 I can't
answer that。
LADY FROTH。 No matter。 Hark 'ee； shall you and I make an
almanac together？
BRISK。 With all my soul。 Your ladyship has made me the man in't
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already； I'm so full of the wounds which you have given。
LADY FROTH。 O finely taken！ I swear now you are even with me。
O Parnassus； you have an infinite deal of wit。
SIR PAUL。 So he has； gads…bud； and so has your ladyship。
SCENE XXII。
＇To them＇ LADY PLYANT； CARELESS； CYNTHIA。
LADY PLYANT。 You tell me most surprising things； bless me； who
would ever trust a man？ Oh my heart aches for fear they should be all
deceitful alike。
CARE。 You need not fear； madam； you have charms to fix
inconstancy itself。
LADY PLYANT。 O dear； you make me blush。
LORD FROTH。 Come； my dear； shall we take leave of my lord and
lady？
CYNT。 They'll wait upon your lordship presently。
LADY FROTH。 Mr。 Brisk； my coach shall set you down。
ALL。 What's the matter？ ＇A great shriek from the corner of the
stage。＇
SCENE XXIII。
＇To them＇ LADY TOUCHWOOD runs out affrighted； my lord after
her； like a parson。
LADY TOUCH。 Oh； I'm betrayed。 Save me； help me！
LORD TOUCH。 Now what evasion； strumpet？
LADY TOUCH。 Stand off； let me go。
LORD TOUCH。 Go；
