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SCENE i] THE DOUBLE-DEALER 175
contain? They talk of sending Mask well to me; I never had
more need of him.—But what can he do? Imagination
cannot form a fairer and more plausible design than this
of his which has miscarried.—O my precious aunt! I shall
never thrive without I deal with the devil, or another
woman.
Women, like flames, have a destroying power,
Ne'er to be quenched till they themselves devour.
[Exit.
ACT THE FIFTH
SCENE I
The Gallery in Lord TOUCHWOOD'S House
Enter Lady TOUCHWOOD and MASKWELL.
LADY TOUCH. Was't not lucky?
^. Lucky! Fortune is your own, and 'tis her interest
so to be. By Heaven, I believe you can control her power!
and she fears it; though chance brought my lord, 'twas
your own art that turned it to advantage.
Lady Touch. Tis true, it might have been my ruin —
But yonder 's my lord, I believe, he's coming to find you.
I'll not be seen. [Exit.
Mas\. So; I durst not own my introducing my lord,
though it succeeded well for her, for she would have suspected
a design which I should have been puzzled to excuse.
My lord is thoughtful — I'll be so too, yet he shall know
my thoughts; or think he does.
Enter Lord TOUCHWOOD.
What have I done?
Lord Touch. \ Aside. \ Talking to himself!
Mas\. 'Twas honest — and shall I be rewarded for it! No,
'twas honest, therefore I shan't. — Nay, rather therefore I
ought not; for it rewards itself.
Lord Touch. [Aside.] Unequalled virtue!
Mas\. But should it be known! then I have lost a friend.
He was an ill-man, and I have gained; for half myself I