.

_A Room in Fondlewife's House_.

A SERVANT _introducing_ BELLMOUR, _in fanatic habit_, _with a patch upon
one eye and a book in his hand_.

SERV. Here's a chair, sir, if you please to repose yourself. My
mistress is coming, sir.

BELL. Secure in my disguise I have out-faced suspicion and even dared
discovery. This cloak my sanctity, and trusty Scarron's novels my prayer-
book; methinks I am the very picture of Montufar in the Hypocrites. Oh!
she comes.

SCENE VII.

BELLMOUR, LAETITIA.

So breaks Aurora through the veil of night,
Thus fly the clouds, divided by her light,
And every eye receives a new-born sight.
[_Throwing off his cloak_, _patch_, _etc._]

LAET. Thus strewed with blushes, like--Ah! Heaven defend me! Who's
this? [_Discovering him_, _starts_.]

BELL. Your lover.

LAET. Vainlove's friend! I know his face, and he has betrayed me to
him. [_Aside_.]

BELL. You are surprised. Did you not expect a lover, madam? Those eyes
shone kindly on my first appearance, though now they are o'ercast.

LAET. I may well be surprised at your person and impudence: they are
both new to me. You are not what your first appearance promised: the
piety of your habit was welcome, but not the hypocrisy.

BELL. Rather the hypocrisy was welcome, but not the hypocrite.

LAET. Who are you, sir? You have mistaken the house sure.

BELL. I have directions in my pocket which agree with everything but
your unkindness. [_Pulls out the letter_.]

LAET. My letter! Base Vainlove! Then 'tis too late to dissemble.
[_Aside_.] 'Tis plain, then, you have mistaken the person. [_Going_.]

BELL. If we part so I'm mistaken. Hold, hold, madam! I confess I have
run into an error. I beg your pardon a thousand times. What an eternal
blockhead am I! Can you forgive me the disorder I have put you into? But
it is a mistake which anybody might have made.

LAET. What can this mean? 'Tis impossible he should be mistaken after
all this. A handsome fellow if he had not surprised me. Methinks, now I
look on him again, I would not have him mistaken. [_Aside_.] We are all
liable to mistakes, sir. If you own it to be so, there needs no farther
apology.

BELL. Nay, faith, madam, 'tis a pleasant one, and worth your hearing.
Expecting a friend last night, at his lodgings, till 'twas late, my
intimacy with him gave me the freedom of his bed. He not coming home all
night, a letter was delivered to m