Cadwell: (giving Olivia his letter) Madam, here's more than you asked me for. (Olivia takes the letter, reads it, and hands it to Laura) Madam, what are you doing?

Olivia: Cadwell: do not be surprised if, after having deceived so many times, you are deceived in your turn. I never loved you and I have not the least jealousy--but I could no longer suffer you to trick a person who does not deserve your trickery. Besides, my brother's interest engaged me to all this. I am going to disclose your perfidy. But in the future profit from this mischance. You have wit, mix in a little sincerity, and someday I hope you will thank me for the advice I have given you.

(to Laura) Read, madam.

Laura: (reading the letter to herself in a low voice) Cadwell.

Olivia: (After Laura has finished reading) Well, what do you say to that?

Laura: That I am delighted, madam, to know your good faith, and to be persuaded that you didn't wish to betray me.

Olivia: You will continue to see Cadwell?

Laura: Yes, madam.

Olivia: You will continue to love him?

Laura: More than I have ever done in my life.

Olivia: Then I must never see you again!

(Exit Olivia)

Laura: Cadwell, I must leave. (in a tone marked with rage) I cannot leave her much longer in her error.

(Exit Laura)

Cadwell: What do you make of that? Laura doesn't appear to me much disabused.

The uncertainty she was in when leaving me, her eyes which couldn't keep back some tears--all these things bode me no good. My shock at first, would have betrayed me without a doubt. What does it matter?

Well, so much the worse for her. I take every precaution possible to spare her chagrin. If she must chagrin herself, I consent. The trick I'm using is not true, but it's possibly true or so it appears to me, and she ought always to give me consideration for the trouble I take to try to deceive her.

(Enter Worthy)

Worthy: Ah, my dear Cadwell, I am delighted.

Cadwell: Eh! What for, Worthy?

Worthy: By what they just told me.

Cadwell: Eh! What have they just told you?

Worthy: That you love my sister.

Cadwell: It's true.

Worthy: Oh, fine! I've come to a.s.sure you that nothing can prevent you from being happy together.

Cadwell: Eh, how?

Worthy: If you wish it, I promise you, I will employ all my credit with her to make her agree to marry you.

Cadwell: I don't intend to get married.

Worthy: What then?

Cadwell: That's the way it is.

Worthy: Didn't you tell me that you love my sister?

Cadwell: I remain in agreement.

Worthy: Uh--what do you intend by loving her?

Cadwell: To love her.

Worthy: Cadwell!

Cadwell: Worthy!

Worthy: You're not thinking of it.

Cadwell: Pardon me.

Worthy: You love my sister without thinking of marrying her?

Cadwell: Do you marry all those you love?

Worthy: There are certain men who ought not to love at all with ideas like that.

Cadwell: That I intend to see.

Worthy: You're losing your mind.

Cadwell: I don't see anything peculiar about a man not wanting to get married.

Worthy: Goodbye, Cadwell. You won't always be so happy or so clever.

(Exit Worthy)

Cadwell: We shall see. G.o.d, this is funny. Once, I would have accepted the role, but after the trick his sister just played me--

(Enter Bendish)

Bendish: Truly, you're prompt, I just came from Charlotte's--

Cadwell: Peace!

Bendish: I learned there that--