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SCENE II] THE DOUBLE-DEALER 127
Lord Froth. Oh, I thought you would not be long before
you found out the wit.
Care. Wit! in what? where the devil's the wit in not
laughing when a man has a mind to't?
Brisk. O Lord, why, can't you find it out?—Why, there
'tis, in the not laughing;—don't you apprehend me?—
[Aside to FROTH.]—My lord, Careless is a very honest fellow,
but hearkee,—you understand me, somewhat heavy, a
little shallow, or so.—[Aloud.]—Why, I'll tell you now.
Suppose now you come up to me—nay, prithee, Careless,
be instructed—suppose, as I was saying, you come up to
me holding your sides, and laughing, as if you would—
Well—I look grave, and ask the cause of this immoderate
mirth—you laugh on still, and are not able to tell me.—Still
I look grave, not so much as smile.
Care. Smile! no; what the devil should you smile at, when
you suppose I can't tell you?
Bris^. Pshaw! pshaw! prithee, don't interrupt me.—But
I tell you, you shall tell me—at last—but it shall be a great
while first.
Care. Well, but prithee don't let it be a great while, because
I long to have it over.
Brisk. Well, then, you tell me some good jest, or very
witty thing, laughing all the while as if you were ready to
die, and I hear it, and look thus.—Would not you be disappointed?
Care. No; for if it were a witty thing, I should not expect
you to understand it.
Lord Froth. O foy, Mr. Careless! all the world allows Mr.
Brisk to have wit, my wife says he has a great deal. I hope
you think her a judge.
Bris^. Pooh, my lord, his voice goes for nothing! I can't
tell how to make him apprehend.—[To CARELESS.] Take
it t'other way:—suppose I say a witty thing to you?
Care. Then I shall be disappointed indeed.
Mel. Let him alone, Brisk, he is obstinately bent not to be
instructed.
Brisk. I'm sorry for him, the deuce take me!
Mel. Shall we go to the ladies, my lord?
Lord Froth. With all my heart, methinks we are a
solitude without 'cm.
Mel. Or, what say you to another bottle of champagne?