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be rewarded but in her。 I'll defer my farther proceedings in it
till you have considered it； but remember how we are both indebted
to him。
SCENE VII。
LADY TOUCHWOOD alone。
LADY TOUCH。 Both indebted to him！ Yes； we are both indebted to
him； if you knew all。 Villain！ Oh； I am wild with this surprise of
treachery： it is impossible； it cannot be。 He love Cynthia！ What；
have I been bawd to his designs； his property only； a baiting place？
Now I see what made him false to Mellefont。 Shame and distraction！
I cannot bear it； oh！ what woman can bear to be a property？ To be
kindled to a flame； only to light him to another's arms； oh！ that I
were fire indeed that I might burn the vile traitor。 What shall I
do？ How shall I think？ I cannot think。 All my designs are lost；
my love unsated； my revenge unfinished； and fresh cause of fury from
unthought of plagues。
SCENE VIII。
＇To her＇ SIR PAUL。
SIR PAUL。 Madam； sister； my lady sister； did you see my lady my
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…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。
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 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 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？
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。
MASK。 I had laid a small design for to…morrow （as love will be
inventing） whi