pected virtue? D'ye see here? [Snatches the letter as in anger.] Look, read it! Gad's my life, if I thought it were so, I would this moment renounce all communication with you. Ungrateful monster! He? Is it so? Ay, I see it, a plot upon my honour; your guilty cheeks confess it: Oh, where shall wronged virtue fly for reparation! I'll be divorced this instant.

Sir P. Gads-bud, what shall I say? This is the strangest surprise! Why, I don't know any thing at all, nor I don't know whether there be any thing at all in the world, or no.

I

Lady P. I thought I should try you, false man. that never dissembled in my life; yet to make trial of you, pretended to like that monster of iniquity, Careless, and found out that contrivance to let you see this letter; which now I find was of your own inditingI do, Heathen, I do; see my face no more; "I'll be "divorced presently."

Sir P. O strange, what will become of me !—I am so amazed, and so overjoyed, so afraid, and so sorry. -But did you give me this letter on purpose, he? Did you?

Lady P. Did I? Do you doubt me, Turk, Saracen? I have a cousin that 's a proctor in the Commons, I'll go to him instantly

Sir P. Hold, stay, I beseech your ladyship-I am so overjoyed, stay, I'll confess all.

Lady P. What will you confess, Jew?

Sir P. Why now as I hope to be saved, I had no hand in this letter-Nay, hear me, I beseech your

ladyship: The devil take me now if he did not go beyond my commission-If I desired him to do any more than speak a good word only just for me; Gadsbud, only for poor Sir Paul, I am an Anabaptist, or a Jew, or what you please to call me.

Lady P. Why, is not here matter of fact?

Sir P. Ay, but by your own virtue and continency that matter of fact is all his own doings.—I confess I had a great desire to have some honours conferred upon me, which lie all in your ladyship's breast, and he being a well-spoken man, I desired him to intercede for me.

Lady P. Did you so, Presumption? "Oh! he " comes, the Tarquin comes; I cannot bear his sight.” [Exit.

Enter CARELESS.

Care. Sir Paul, I am glad I have met with you ; 'egad I have said all I could, but cannot prevailThen my friendship to you has carried me a little further in this matter

Sir P. Indeed-Well, sir-I'll dissemble with him a little. [Aside.

Care. Why, faith, I have in my time known honest gentlemen abused by a pretended coyness in their wives, and I had a mind to try my lady's virtueAnd when I could not prevail for you, 'egad, I pretended to be in love myself-but all in vain, she would not hear a word upon that subject; then I writ a letter to her; I don't know what effects that will have, but

I'll be sure to tell you when I do; though, by this light, I believe her virtue is impregnable.

Sir P. O Providence! Providence! What discoveries are here made! Why, this is better and more miraculous than the rest.

Care. What do you mean?

Sir P. I cannot tell you, I am so overjoyed; come along with me to my lady, I cannot contain myself; come, my dear friend.

Care. So, so, so, this difficulty's over. [Aside. Exit.

Enter MELLEFONT and MASKWELL, from different doors.

Mel. Maskwell, I have been looking for youIt is within a quarter of eight.

Mask. My lady is just gone into my lord's closet, you had best steal into her chamber before she comes, and lie concealed there, otherwise she may lock the door when we are together, and you not easily get in to surprise us.

Mel. He? You say true.

Mask. You had best make haste, for after she has made some apology to the company for her own and my lord's absence all this while, she 'll retire to her chamber instantly.

Mel. I go this moment: Now, Fortune, I defy thee.

[Exit. Mask. I confess you may be allowed to be secure in your own opinion; the appearance is very fair, but I

have an after-game to play that shall turn the tables, and here comes the man that I must manage.

Enter Lord TOUCHWOOD.

Ld. T. Maskwell, you are the man I wished to

meet.

Mask. I am happy to be in the way of your lordship's commards.

Ld. T. I have always found you prudent and careful in any thing that has concerned me or my family.

Mask. I were a villain else—I am bound by duty and gratitude, and my own inclination, to be ever your lordship's servant.

Ld. T. Enough-You are my friend; I know it: Yet there has been a thing in your knowledge which has concerned me nearly, that you have concealed from me.

Mask. My lord!

:

Ld. T. Nay, I excuse your friendship to my unnatural nephew thus far-But I know you have been privy to his impious designs upon my wife. This evening she has told me all her good-nature concealed it as long as was possible; but he perseveres so in villany, that she has told me even you were weary of dissuading him, though you have once actually hindered him from forcing her.

Mask. I am sorry, my lord, I cannot make you an answer; this is an occasion in which I would not willingly be silent.

Ι

Ld. T. I know you would excuse him-And I know as well that you cannot.

Mask. Indeed I was in hopes it had been but a

youthful heat that might have soon boiled over;

Ld. T. Say on.

but

Mask. I have nothing more to say, my lordbut to express my concern; for I think his frenzy increases daily.

Ld. T. How! give me but proof of it, ocular proof, that I may justify my dealing with him to the world, and share my fortunes.

Mask. O, my lord! consider that is hard besides, time may work upon him then, for me to do it! I have professed an everlasting friendship to him.

:

Ld. T. He is your friend, and what am I?
Mask. I am answered.

Ld. T. Fear not his displeasure; I will put you out of his and Fortune's power; and for that thou art scrupulously honest, I will secure thy fidelity to him, and give my honour never to own any discovery that you shall make me. Can you give me a demonstra

tive proof? Speak.

Mask. I wish I could not

To be plain, my lord, I intended this evening to have tried all arguments to dissuade him from a design, which I suspect; and if I had not succeeded, to have informed your lordship of what I knew.

Ld. T. I thank you.

pose?

What is the villain's pur