De Wilde delin MHARLEY as MASKWELL. Well this double-dealing is a jewel Here he comes, now for me. London. Printed for J.Bell. British Library. Strand. May 8.1795. Audinet se 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 '11 miss neither of you. L. T. When shall we meet? At eight this evening in my chamber; there rejoice at our success, and toy away an hour in mirth. : [Exit. I know what she Mask. I will not fail.means by toying away an hour well enough. Pox, I have lost all my 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 inter.. pret a coldness the right way; therefore I must dissemble ardour and ecstacy, that 's resolved: How casily and pleasantly is that dissembled before fruition! Pox on it, that a man can't drink without quenching his thirst. Ha! yonder comes Mellefont thoughtful. Let me think: meet her at eight-hum-ha!--by heaven I have it-if I can speak to my lord before-"Was it my brain or providence? no matter which" -I will deccive them all, and yet secure myself, 't was 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. F Enter 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 are 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 is just gone from hence. Mel. And having trusted thee with the secrets of her soul, thou art villanously bent to discover them all to me, ha? Mask. I am afraid my frailty leans that way But I don't know whether I can in honour discover them all. Mel. All, all, man. What you may in honour be. tray her as far as she betrays herself. No tragical design upon my person, I hope. Mask. No, but it is a comical design upon mine. Mask. Listen and be dumb.. gaining about the rate of you ruin -We have been bar 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 plea sure. Mel. So when you've swallowed the potion, you sweeten your mouth with a plumb. 2 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 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. Mask. By this light, I am serious; all raillery apart I knew 'twould stun you :—' -This evening at eight she will receive me in her bed-chamber. 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 heaven into a hot furnace sooner. Mask. No, you would not-it would not be so convenient as I can order matters. Mel. What do 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 heaven's sake, dear Maskwell? Mask. Why thus-I'll go according to appointment; you shall have notice at the critical minute to come and surprize your aunt and me together; coun |