the double-dealer-第14部分
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friendship to my lord； and base self…interest。 Let me perish first；
and from this hour avoid all sight and speech； and； if I can； all
thought of that pernicious beauty。 Ha！ But what is my distraction
doing？ I am wildly talking to myself； and some ill chance might
have directed malicious ears this way。 ＇Seems to start； seeing my
lord。＇
LORD TOUCH。 Start not； let guilty and dishonest souls start at the
revelation of their thoughts； but be thou fixed； as is thy virtue。
MASK。 I am confounded； and beg your Lordship's pardon for those
free discourses which I have had with myself。
LORD TOUCH。 Come； I beg your pardon that I overheard you； and yet
it shall not need。 Honest Maskwell！ Thy and my good genius led me
hither。 Mine； in that I have discovered so much manly virtue；
thine； in that thou shalt have due reward of all thy worth。 Give me
thy hand。 My nephew is the alone remaining branch of all our
ancient family： him I thus blow away； and constitute thee in his
room to be my heir …
MASK。 Now heaven forbid …
LORD TOUCH。 No moreI have resolved。 The writings are ready
drawn； and wanted nothing but to be signed； and have his name
inserted。 Yours will fill the blank as well。 I will have no reply。
Let me command this time； for 'tis the last in which I will assume
authority。 Hereafter； you shall rule where I have power。
MASK。 I humbly would petition …
LORD TOUCH。 Is't for yourself？ ＇MASKWELL pauses。＇ I'll hear of
nought for anybody else。
MASK。 Then witness heaven for me； this wealth and honour was not of
my seeking； nor would I build my fortune on another's ruin。 I had
but one desire …
LORD TOUCH。 Thou shalt enjoy it。 If all I'm worth in wealth or
interest can purchase Cynthia； she is thine。 I'm sure Sir Paul's
consent will follow fortune。 I'll quickly show him which way that
is going。
MASK。 You oppress me with bounty。 My gratitude is weak； and
shrinks beneath the weight； and cannot rise to thank you。 What；
enjoy my love！ Forgive the transports of a blessing so unexpected；
so unhoped for； so unthought of！
LORD TOUCH。 I will confirm it； and rejoice with thee。
SCENE IV。
MASKWELL alone。
MASK。 This is prosperous indeed。 Why let him find me out a
villain； settled in possession of a fair estate； and full fruition
of my love； I'll bear the railings of a losing gamester。 But should
he find me out before！ 'Tis dangerous to delay。 Let me think。
Should my lord proceed to treat openly of my marriage with Cynthia；
all must be discovered； and Mellefont can be no longer blinded。 It
must not be； nay； should my lady know itay； then were fine work
indeed！ Her fury would spare nothing； though she involved herself
in ruin。 No； it must be by stratagem。 I must deceive Mellefont
once more； and get my lord to consent to my private management。 He
comes opportunely。 Now will I； in my old way； discover the whole
and real truth of the matter to him； that he may not suspect one
word on't。
No mask like open truth to cover lies；
As to go naked is the best disguise。
SCENE V。
＇To him＇ MELLEFONT。
MEL。 O Maskwell； what hopes？ I am confounded in a maze of
thoughts； each leading into one another； and all ending in
perplexity。 My uncle will not see nor hear me。
MASK。 No matter； sir； don't trouble your head： all's in my power。
MEL。 How？ For heaven's sake？
MASK。 Little do you think that your aunt has kept her word。 How
the devil she wrought my lord into this dotage； I know not； but he's
gone to Sir Paul about my marriage with Cynthia； and has appointed
me his heir。
MEL。 The devil he has！ What's to be done？
MASK。 I have it； it must be by stratagem； for it's in vain to make
application to him。 I think I have that in my head that cannot
fail。 Where's Cynthia？
MEL。 In the garden。
MASK。 Let us go and consult her： my life for yours； I cheat my
lord。
SCENE VI。
LORD TOUCHWOOD； LADY TOUCHWOOD。
LADY TOUCH。 Maskwell your heir； and marry Cynthia！
LORD TOUCH。 I cannot do too much for so much merit。
LADY TOUCH。 But this is a thing of too great moment to be so
suddenly resolved。 Why Cynthia？ Why must he be married？ Is there
not reward enough in raising his low fortune； but he must mix his
blood with mine； and wed my niece？ How know you that my brother
will consent； or she？ Nay； he himself perhaps may have affections
otherwhere。
LORD TOUCH。 No； I am convinced he loves her。
LADY TOUCH。 Maskwell love Cynthia？ Impossible！
LORD TOUCH。 I tell you he confessed it to me。
LADY TOUCH。 Confusion！ How's this？ ＇Aside。＇
LORD TOUCH。 His humility long stifled his passion。 And his love of
Mellefont would have made him still conceal it。 But by
encouragement； I wrung the secret from him； and know he's no way to
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
