the double-dealer(两面派)-第20节
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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。
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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
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THE DOUBLE…DEALERA COMEDY
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？
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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。
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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。
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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；
