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！
end he？ A brave chopping boy。 I'll settle a thousand pound a year
upon the rogue as soon as ever he looks me in the face； I will； gads…bud。
I'm overjoyed to think I have any of my family that will bring children
into the world。 For I would fain have some resemblance of myself in my
posterity； he； Thy？ Can't you contrive that affair； girl？ Do； gads…bud；
think on thy old father； heh？ Make the young rogue as like as you can。
CYNT。 I'm glad to see you so merry； sir。
SIR PAUL。 Merry； gads…bud； I'm serious； I'll give thee five hundred
pounds for every inch of him that resembles me； ah； this eye； this left eye！
A thousand pounds for this left eye。 This has done execution in its time；
girl； why； thou hast my leer； hussey； just thy father's leer。 Let it be
transmitted to the young rogue by the help of imagination； why； 'tis the
mark of our family； Thy； our house is distinguished by a languishing eye；
as the house of Austria is by a thick lip。 Ah！ when I was of your age；
hussey； I would have held fifty to one； I could have drawn my own
picturegads…bud I could have donenot so much as you； neither； but
nay； don't blush。
CYNT。 I don't blush； sir； for I vow I don't understand。
SIR PAUL。 Pshaw； pshaw； you fib； you baggage； you do understand；
and you shall understand； come； don't be so nice。 Gads…bud； don't learn
after your mother…in…law my lady here。 Marry； heaven forbid that you
should follow her example； that would spoil all indeed。 Bless us！ if you
should take a vagary and make a rash resolution on your wedding night； to
die a maid； as she did； all were ruined； all my hopes lost。 My heart
would break； and my estate would be left to the wide world； he？ I hope
you are a better Christian than to think of living a nun； he？ Answer me？
CYNT。 I'm all obedience； sir； to your commands。
LADY PLYANT。 ＇Having read the letter。＇ O dear Mr。 Careless； I
swear he writes charmingly； and he looks charmingly； and he has charmed
me； as much as I have charmed him； and so I'll tell him in the wardrobe
when 'tis dark。 O criminy！ I hope Sir Paul has not seen both letters。
＇Puts the wrong letter hastily up； and gives him her own。＇ Sir Paul； here's
your letter； to…morrow morning I'll settle accounts to your advantage。
57
… Page 58…
THE DOUBLE…DEALERA COMEDY
SCENE IV。
＇To them＇ BRISK。
BRISK。 Sir Paul； gads…bud； you're an uncivil person； let me tell you；
and all that； and I did not think it had been in you。
SIR PAUL。 O law； what's the matter now？ I hope you are not angry；
Mr。 Brisk。
BRISK。 Deuce take me； I believe you intend to marry your daughter
yourself； you're always brooding over her like an old hen； as if she were
not well hatched； egad； he。
SIR PAUL。 Good strange！ Mr。 Brisk is such a merry facetious
person； he； he； he。 No； no； I have done with her； I have done with her
now。
BRISK。 The fiddles have stayed this hour in the hall； and my Lord
Froth wants a partner； we can never begin without her。
SIR PAUL。 Go； go child； go； get you gone and dance and be merry；
I'll come and look at you by and by。 Where's my son Mellefont？
LADY PLYANT。 I'll send him to them； I know where he is。
BRISK。 Sir Paul； will you send Careless into the hall if you meet
him？
SIR PAUL。 I will； I will； I'll go and look for him on purpose。
SCENE V。
BRISK alone。
BRISK。 So now they are all gone； and I have an opportunity to
practice。 Ah！ My dear Lady Froth； she's a most engaging creature； if
she were not so fond of that damned coxcombly lord of hers； and yet I am
forced to allow him wit too； to keep in with him。 No matter； she's a
woman of parts； and； egad； parts will carry her。 She said she would follow
me into the gallery。 Now to make my approaches。 Hem； hem！ Ah
ma… ＇bows。＇ dam！ Pox on't； why should I disparage my parts by thinking
what to say？ None but dull rogues think； witty men； like rich fellows； are
always ready for all expenses； while your blockheads； like poor needy
58
… Page 59…
THE DOUBLE…DEALERA COMEDY
scoundrels； are forced to examine their stock； and forecast the charges of
the day。 Here she comes； I'll seem not to see her； and try to win her with a
new airy invention of my own； hem！
SCENE VI。
＇To him＇ LADY FROTH。
BRISK ＇Sings； walking about。＇ 'I'm sick with love；' ha； ha； ha；
'prithee； come cure me。 I'm sick with；' etc。 O ye powers！ O my Lady
Froth； my Lady Froth； my Lady Froth！ Heigho！ Break heart； gods； I
thank you。 ＇Stands musing with his arms across。＇
LADY FROTH。 O heavens； Mr。 Brisk！ What's the matter？
BRISK。 My Lady Froth！ Your ladyship's most humble servant。
The matter； madam？ Nothing； madam； nothing at all； egad。 I was
fallen into the most agreeable amusement in the whole province of
contemplation： that's all（I'll seem to conceal my passion； and that will
look like respect。） ＇Aside。＇
LADY FROTH。 Bless me； why did you call out upon me so loud？
BRISK。 O Lord； I； madam！ I beseech your ladyshipwhen？
LADY FROTH。 Just now as I came in； bless me； why； don't you
know it？
BRISK。 Not I； let me perish。 But did I？ Strange！ I confess your
ladyship was in my thoughts； and I was in a sort of dream that did in a
manner represent a very pleasing object to my imagination； but… …but did I
indeed？To see how love and murder will out。 But did I really name my
Lady Froth？
LADY FROTH。 Three times aloud； as I love letters。 But did you
talk of love？ O Parnassus！ Who would have thought Mr。 Brisk could
have been in love； ha； ha； ha。 O heavens； I thought you could have no
mistress but the Nine Muses。
BRISK。 No more I have； egad； for I adore 'em all in your ladyship。
Let me perish； I don't