按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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） 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。
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
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。