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SCENE HI] THE DOUBLE-DEALER iai
Mel. Excellent Mask well; thuu wert certainly meant for
a statesman, or a Jesuit—but that thou arc tuu honest for
one, and too pious for the other.
Majf^. Well, get yourself ready, and meet me in half an
hour, yonder in my lady's dressing-room; go by the back
stairs, and so we may slip down without being observed.—
I'll send the chaplain to you with his robes; I have made
him my own, and ordered him to meet us to-morrow
morning at St. Alban's; there we will sum up this account,
to all our satisfactions.
Mel. Should I begin to thank or praise thec, I should
waste the little time we have. [Exit.
Masf(. Madam, you will be ready?
Cyn. I will be punctual to the minute. [Going.
Mas\. Stay, I have a doubt.—Upon second thoughts we
had better meet in the chaplain's chamber here, the corner
chamber at this end of the gallery; there is a back way into
it, so that you need not come through this door—and a pair
of private stairs leading down to the stables. It will be more
convenient.
Cyn. I am guided by you,—but Mcllefont will mistake.
Mask. No, no, I'll after him immediately, and tell him.
Cyn. I will not fail. \Exit.
Mask. Why, qui vule decipi decipiatur.—Tis no fault of
mine: I have told 'em, in plain terms, how easy 'tis for me
to cheat 'em; and, if they will not hear the serpent's hiss,
they must be stung into experience, and future caution.
Now to prepare my lord to consent to this.—But first I
must instruct my little Levite; there is no plot, public or
private, that can expect to prosper without one of them has
a finger in't: he promised me to be within at this hour.—
Mr. Saygrace! Mr. Saygrace!
[Goes to the chamber door, and knocks.
Saygrace. [Looking out.] Sweet sir, I will but pen the
last line of an acrostic, and be with you in the twinkling
of an ejaculation, in the pronouncing of an amen, or before
you can—
Mask, Nay, good Mr. Saygrace, do not prolong the time,
by describing to me the shortness of your stay; rather, if
you please, defer the finishing of your wit, and let us talk
about our business: it shall be tithes in your way.
[Enter SAYGRACE.