Slice: If I find him, I will be back here in no time.

(Exit Slice)

Worthy: Madam, Cadwell will not be so faithful as you imagine.

Laura: (to Bendish) Bendish, do you think he will come?

Bendish: Madam, I don't know anything about it. But if in my life, I get lucky--

Jenny: (interrupting him) Things don't always succeed.

Bendish: Experience makes me doubt a bit. But at least I know the rap that rapped me so distinctly. If it's this little rapper, she's devilishly strong.

Jenny: It was me. I ought to have done it to you a long time ago.

Bendish: I thank you for your favors.

Arabella: (to Laura) If Cadwell's going to come we won't be long in knowing. The Park isn't far from here.

Selina: I will be very irritated not to see the end of this adventure, although I preferred him to a person who wasn't very disagreeable.

Laura: (to Jenny) Jenny, see if someone isn't coming down there.

Bendish: I will go to hurry him if you wish, madam.

Worthy: (to Laura) Madam, don't let him leave, if you please.

Laura: (to Jenny) Someone's coming now.

(Jenny goes to the door)

Bendish: (aside) I see that he won't be here too soon.

Jenny: (returning) Madam, (to Laura) our man sent me to tell you he will be here in a moment. He's taking several detours so he cannot judge the distance.

Laura: Come on, it's over. I will be absolutely cured, and I think I will never speak to him again in my life.

Selina: Although you'd like a confession from me, know that I have more fort.i.tude than you and that I have forgotten him more easily than I came to love him.

Arabella: As for me, I haven't got such a strong soul.

Selina: (to Olivia) But you, madam, he loves you.

Olivia: Like the others.

Bendish: I a.s.sure you that you are the only woman in the world of whom I never heard him say a bad thing.

Laura: And of me, Bendish?

Bendish: Oh, for you, he loves you, madam.

Laura: Who can doubt it after this. I am going to speak to him myself. I won't bother to change my voice.

Worthy: Madam.

Laura: (interrupting him) I beg you, let me do it. I intend to speak to him. (to Olivia, Arabella, and Selina making them sit in a corner) Ladies, be seated.

(to Worthy, also placing him to the side) Worthy, you sit back, too.

Worthy: Tell Bendish to be silent.

Bendish: I don't intend to say a word. (to Laura) Do you treat all lucky men the way I was treated?

Laura: It is only a traitor who deserves it, a liar like your master.

Bendish: I will have my revenge.

Jenny: (low to Laura, leading in Cadwell) Madam, here he is.

Laura: Everybody retire.

(All go to their places. Jenny and Bendish beside each other. Enter Cadwell blindfolded.)

Laura: (to Cadwell in a disguised voice) Here's an adventure that resembles those in a novel. Sir, I believe you won't find the precautions I have taken bad. Your reputation is bad enough as regards women so that I cannot see you otherwise.

Nature, which perhaps has not protected me very well, engages me to know the state of your heart before disclosing mine. Some attentions paid to me persuade me that I am pretty, that I have wit, that I am always done justice. I've never found it in me to make a man unfaithful to his beloved. Even when my vanity flatters me to the point of making me believe I could, the goodness of my heart dissuades me from doing it. My pleasures do not augment from the shame of others. Nor does a false one cease to be false. Speak then sincerely, if you can. Are you free?

Cadwell: You will judge my sincerity by the confession you are about to hear. I don't have a free heart, madam. I don't wish to deceive you: I'm in love and I have been for a long time. You see at least that my behaviour gives the lie to the reputation ascribed to me.

Worthy: (low to Olivia) He recognizes her.

Olivia: Shut up.

Laura: You love, Cadwell? For a long time you say?

Cadwell: Yes, I love, madam. And with a love that will end only with my life.

Laura: But this so tender love--isn't it offended by the steps you are taking?

Cadwell: I will have a hard time telling you what made me come here.

Laura: Really, I don't know how to stop myself from praising you. If I cannot win you at least I have the pleasure of knowing you are not such as you have been painted. But Cadwell, can I obtain the bounty from you at the price of my tenderness?

Cadwell: There's nothing I wouldn't do for you so long as it doesn't injure my pa.s.sion.

Worthy: (low to Selina) He recognizes her, I tell you.

Selina: (low) Eh, shut up.

Laura: (to Cadwell) I wouldn't want you to do such an extraordinary thing. I don't want to find you even indiscreet. But Cadwell, if I divine your mistress, I want you to admit it to me. Is it Arabella?