ow does he bear his disappointment?

MASK. Secure in my assistance, he seemed not much afflicted, but rather
laughed at the shallow artifice, which so little time must of necessity
discover. Yet he is apprehensive of some farther design of yours, and
has engaged me to watch you. I believe he will hardly be able to prevent
your plot, yet I would have you use caution and expedition.

LADY TOUCH. Expedition indeed, for all we do must be performed in the
remaining part of this evening, and before the company break up, lest my
lord should cool and have an opportunity to talk with him privately. My
lord must not see him again.

MASK. By no means; therefore you must aggravate my lord's displeasure to
a degree that will admit of no conference with him. What think you of
mentioning me?

LADY TOUCH. How?

MASK. To my lord, as having been privy to Mellefont's design upon you,
but still using my utmost endeavours to dissuade him, though my
friendship and love to him has made me conceal it; yet you may say, I
threatened the next time he attempted anything of that kind to discover
it to my lord.

LADY TOUCH. To what end is this?

MASK. It will confirm my lord's opinion of my honour and honesty, and
create in him a new confidence in me, which (should this design miscarry)
will be necessary to the forming another plot that I have in my head.--To
cheat you as well as the rest. [_Aside_.]

LADY TOUCH. I'll do it--I'll tell him you hindered him once from forcing
me.

MASK. Excellent! Your ladyship has a most improving fancy. You had
best go to my lord, keep him as long as you can in his closet, and I
doubt not but you will mould him to what you please; your guests are so
engaged in their own follies and intrigues, they'll miss neither of you.

LADY TOUCH. When shall we meet?--at eight this evening in my chamber?
There rejoice at our success, and toy away an hour in mirth.

MASK. I will not fail.

SCENE III.

MASKWELL _alone_.

I know what she means by toying away an hour well enough. Pox, I have
lost all appetite to her; yet she's a fine woman, and I loved her once.
But I don't know: since I have been in a great measure kept by her, the
case is altered; what was my pleasure is become my duty, and I have as
little stomach to her now as if I were her husband. Should she smoke my
design upon Cynthia, I were in a fine pickle. She has a damned
penetrating head, and knows how to interpret a coldness th