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SCENE v] THE DOUBLE-DEALER 171
lously 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 demonstrative 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.
Lord Touch. I thank you. What is the villain's purpose?
Mask. He has owned nothing to me of late, and what I
mean now is only a bare suspicion of my own. If your lordship
will meet me a quarter of an hour hence there, in that
lobby by my lady's bed-chamber, I shall be able to tell you
more.
7.rW Touch. I will.
Mask. My duty to your lordship makes me do a severepierc
nf imtice.
Lord Touch. I will be secret, and reward your honesty
beyond your hopes. [Exeunt,
SCENE V
Lady TOUCHWOOD'S Chamber
Enter MELLEFDNT.
Mel. Prav Heaven my aunt keep touch with her assignation'—Oh
that her lord were but sweating behind this hanginff,
with the expectation of what I shall see!—Hist! shecomes.—Little
does she think what a mine is just ready to
spring under her feet. But to my post.
[Conceals himself behind the hangings.
Enter Lady TDUCHWDDD.
Lady Touch. 'Tis eight o'clock: methinks I should havefound
him here. Who does not prevent 3 the hour of love
outstays the lime; for to be dully punctual, is too slow.—
[To MASKWELL entering] I was accusing you of neglect.
Mask. I confess you do reproach me when I see you herebefore
me; but 'tis fit I should be still behind-hand, still tobe
more and more indebted to your goodness.
Lady Touch. You can excuse a fault too well, not to have
been to blame.—A ready answer shows you were prepared,
3 Anticipate.