the double-dealer(两面派)-第10节
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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？
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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
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THE DOUBLE…DEALERA COMEDY
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
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THE DOUBLE…DEALERA COMEDY
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
mercynay； she must ever after be in awe of you。
MEL。 Let me adore thee； my better genius！ By heav'n I think it is
not in the power of fate to disappoint my hopesmy hopes？ My
certainty！
MASK。 Well； I'll meet you here； within a quarter of eight； and give
you notice。
MEL。 Good fortune ever go along with thee。
SCENE V。
MELLEFONT； CARELESS。
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CARE。 Mellefont； get out o' th' way； my Lady Plyant's coming； and I
shall never succeed while thou art in sight。 Though she begins to tack
about； but I made love a great while to no purpose。
MEL。 Why； what's the matter？ She's convinced that I don't care for
her。
CARE。 I can't get an answer from her； that does not begin with her
honour； or her virtue； her religion； or some such cant。 Then she has told
me the whole history of Sir Paul's nine years courtship； how he has lain
for whole nights together upon the stairs before her chamber…door； and
that the first favour he received from her was a piece of an old scarlet
petticoat for a stomacher； which since the day of his marriage he has out of
a piece of gallantry converted into a night…cap； and wears it still with much
solemnity on his anniversary wedding…night。
MEL。 That I have seen； with the ceremony thereunto belonging。
For on that night he creeps in at the bed's feet like a gulled ba
