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the double-dealer-第8章

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LORD TOUCH。  Well; well。



LADY TOUCH。  Nay; but will you be calm?  Indeed it's nothing but …



LORD TOUCH。  But what?



LADY TOUCH。  But will you promise me not to be angry?  Nay; you

mustnot to be angry with Mellefont?  I dare swear he's sorry; and

were it to do again; would not …



LORD TOUCH。  Sorry for what?  'Death; you rack me with delay。



LADY TOUCH。  Nay; no great matter; onlywell; I have your promise。

Pho; why nothing; only your nephew had a mind to amuse himself

sometimes with a little gallantry towards me。  Nay; I can't think he

meant anything seriously; but methought it looked oddly。



LORD TOUCH。  Confusion and hell; what do I hear?



LADY TOUCH。  Or; may be; he thought he was not enough akin to me;

upon your account; and had a mind to create a nearer relation on his

own; a lover you know; my lord。  Ha; ha; ha。  Well; but that's all。

Now you have it; well remember your promise; my lord; and don't take

any notice of it to him。



LORD TOUCH。  No; no; no。  Damnation!



LADY TOUCH。  Nay; I swear you must not。  A little harmless mirth;

only misplaced; that's all。  But if it were more; 'tis over now; and

all's well。  For my part I have forgot it; and so has he; I hope;

for I have not heard anything from him these two days。



LORD TOUCH。  These two days!  Is it so fresh?  Unnatural villain!

Death; I'll have him stripped and turned naked out of my doors this

moment; and let him rot and perish; incestuous brute!



LADY TOUCH。  Oh; for heav'n's sake; my lord; you'll ruin me if you

take such public notice of it; it will be a town talk。  Consider

your own and my honour; nay; I told you you would not be satisfied

when you knew it。



LORD TOUCH。  Before I've done I will be satisfied。  Ungrateful

monster! how long?



LADY TOUCH。  Lord; I don't know; I wish my lips had grown together

when I told you。  Almost a twelvemonth。  Nay; I won't tell you any

more till you are yourself。  Pray; my lord; don't let the company

see you in this disorder。  Yet; I confess; I can't blame you; for I

think I was never so surprised in my life。  Who would have thought

my nephew could have so misconstrued my kindness?  But will you go

into your closet; and recover your temper。  I'll make an excuse of

sudden business to the company; and come to you。  Pray; good; dear

my lord; let me beg you do now。  I'll come immediately and tell you

all; will you; my lord?



LORD TOUCH。  I willI am mute with wonder。



LADY TOUCH。  Well; but go now; here's somebody coming。



LORD TOUCH。  Well; I go。  You won't stay? for I would hear more of

this。



LADY TOUCH。  I follow instantly。  So。





SCENE II。





LADY TOUCHWOOD; MASKWELL。



MASK。  This was a masterpiece; and did not need my help; though I

stood ready for a cue to come in and confirm all; had there been

occasion。



LADY TOUCH。  Have you seen Mellefont?



MASK。  I have; and am to meet him here about this time。



LADY TOUCH。  How does he bear his disappointment?



MASK。  Secure in my assistance; he seemed not much afflicted; but

rather laughed at the shallow artifice; which so little time must of

necessity discover。  Yet he is apprehensive of some farther design

of yours; and has engaged me to watch you。  I believe he will hardly

be able to prevent your plot; yet I would have you use caution and

expedition。



LADY TOUCH。  Expedition indeed; for all we do must be performed in

the remaining part of this evening; and before the company break up;

lest my lord should cool and have an opportunity to talk with him

privately。  My lord must not see him again。



MASK。  By no means; therefore you must aggravate my lord's

displeasure to a degree that will admit of no conference with him。

What think you of mentioning me?



LADY TOUCH。  How?



MASK。  To my lord; as having been privy to Mellefont's design upon

you; but still using my utmost endeavours to dissuade him; though my

friendship and love to him has made me conceal it; yet you may say;

I threatened the next time he attempted anything of that kind to

discover it to my lord。



LADY TOUCH。  To what end is this?



MASK。  It will confirm my lord's opinion of my honour and honesty;

and create in him a new confidence in me; which (should this design

miscarry) will be necessary to the forming another plot that I have

in my head。To cheat you as well as the rest。  'Aside。'



LADY TOUCH。  I'll do itI'll tell him you hindered him once from

forcing me。



MASK。  Excellent!  Your ladyship has a most improving fancy。  You

had best go to my lord; keep him as long as you can in his closet;

and I doubt not but you will mould him to what you please; your

guests are so engaged in their own follies and intrigues; they'll

miss neither of you。



LADY TOUCH。  When shall we meet?at eight this evening in my

chamber?  There rejoice at our success; and toy away an hour in

mirth。



MASK。  I will not fail。





SCENE III。





MASKWELL alone。



I know what she means by toying away an hour well enough。  Pox; I

have lost all appetite to her; yet she's a fine woman; and I loved

her once。  But I don't know:  since I have been in a great measure

kept by her; the case is altered; what was my pleasure is become my

duty; and I have as little stomach to her now as if I were her

husband。  Should she smoke my design upon Cynthia; I were in a fine

pickle。  She has a damned penetrating head; and knows how to

interpret a coldness the right way; therefore I must dissemble

ardour and ecstasy; that's resolved。  How easily and pleasantly is

that dissembled before fruition!  Pox on't that a man can't drink

without quenching his thirst。  Ha! yonder comes Mellefont;

thoughtful。  Let me think。  Meet her at eighthumha!  By heav'n I

have it。If I can speak to my lord before。  Was it my brain or

providence?  No matter whichI will deceive 'em all; and yet secure

myself。  'Twas a lucky thought!  Well; this double…dealing is a

jewel。  Here he comes; now for me。  'MASKWELL; pretending not to see

him; walks by him; and speaks as it were to himself。'





SCENE IV。





'To him' MELLEFONT; musing。



MASK。  Mercy on us; what will the wickedness of this world come to?



MEL。  How now; Jack?  What; so full of contemplation that you run

over?



MASK。  I'm glad you're come; for I could not contain myself any

longer; and was just going to give vent to a secret; which nobody

but you ought to drink down。  Your aunt's just gone from hence。



MEL。  And having trusted thee with the secrets of her soul; thou art

villainously bent to discover 'em all to me; ha?



MASK。  I'm afraid my frailty leans that way。  But I don't know

whether I can in honour discover 'em all。



MEL。  All; all; man!  What; you may in honour betray her as far as

she betrays herself。  No tragical design upon my person; I hope。



MASK。  No; but it's a comical design upon mine。



MEL。  What dost thou mean?



MASK。  Listen and be dumb; we have been bargaining about the rate of

your ruin …



MEL。  Like any two guardians to an orphan heiress。  Well?



MASK。  And whereas pleasure is generally paid with mischief; what


mischief I do is to be paid with pleasure。



MEL。  So when you've swallowed the potion you sweeten your mouth

with a plum。



MASK。  You are merry; sir; but I shall probe your constitution。  In

short; the price of your banishment is to be paid with the person of





MEL。  Of Cynthia and her fortune。  Why; you forget you told me this

before。



MASK。  No; no。  So far you are right; and I am; as an earnest of

that bargain; to have full and free possession of the person of

your aunt。



MEL。  Ha!  Pho; you trifle。



MASK。  By this light; I'm serious; all raillery apart。  I knew

'twould stun you。  This evening at eight she will receive me in her

bedchamber。



MEL。  Hell and the devil; is she abandoned of all grace?  Why; the

woman is possessed。



MASK。  Well; will you go in my stead?



MEL。  By heav'n; into a hot furnace sooner。



MASK。  No; you would not; it would not be so convenient; as I can

order matters。



MEL。  What d'ye mean?



MASK。  Mean?  Not to disappoint the lady; I assure you。  Ha; ha; ha;

how gravely he looks。  Come; come; I won't perplex you。  'Tis the

only thing that providence could have contrived to make me capable

of serving you; either to my inclination or your own necessity。



MEL。  How; how; for heav'n's sake; dear Maskwell?



MASK。  Why; thus。  I'll go according to appointment; you shall have

notice at the critical minute to come and surprise your aunt and me

together。  Counterfeit a rage against me; and I'll make my escape

through the private passage from her chamber; which I'll take care

to leave open。  'Twill be hard if then you can't bring her to any

conditions。  For this discovery will disarm her of all defence; and

leave her entirely at your
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