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had not told you anything。 Indeed； my lord； you have frighted me。 Nay；
look pleased； I'll tell you。
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？
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THE DOUBLE…DEALERA COMEDY
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？
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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 r