_D._ Tell me who this man was.
_Rose._ I do not know.
I heard no noise till Marcela awoke me.
_D._ Didst thou awake her, Marcela?
_Mar._ Yes, my lady.
She was asleep. Rose always speaks the truth.
It wasn’t Rose.
_D._ You are all then in one plot:
Or shame has made you lie. But never think
To escape. I know the gentleman, and know
He visits one of you: and which it is
I’ll learn to-night: unless perhaps you’ll say 2250
He makes love to you all.
_Mar._ Indeed, my lady,
He is quite a proper man.
_Dor._ And all his courtship
Has been most regular.
_D._ Come, come: confess.
Who is it?
_Fl._ It’s me, my lady. I must confess.
_D._ Flora!
_Fl._ Forgive me, I beg; for I abjure
I never asked him: but, as I often tell him,
He takes such liberties; which, as you know him,
I need not tell your ladyship: and ’tis true
We have been some time engaged.
_D._ Engaged!—to you!
Here’s a fine story!
_R._ (_aside_). She has not said his name. 2259
_Fl._ Indeed, ’tis true, my lady; and I am sure
My lady will pardon me. And since he hath told me
How kind your ladyship hath been to him....
_D._ By heaven, I’ll have you whipped,—whipped!
_Fl._ O, my lady!
_D._ And speak of marriage, you impertinent hussy!
_Fl._ It was the money which your ladyship gave him,
That made us think of marrying.
_D._ Worse and worse!
To spend my present on my waiting-maid.—
O thy pretension! thy pretension! Think you
He really loves you?
_Fl._ Why not?
_Maids._ Ay, why not? 2270
_D._ What hath he ever said to make you think
He loves you, Flora?
_Fl._ He told me very often,
Before I’d have him....
_D._ Ah!
_Kate._ And that I warrant.
He’s not one of your struck-dumb mumbling sort,
That haven’t a word.
_D._ Silence! And tell me, Flora,
Something he has said.
_Fl._ He calls me his little love,—his duck: 2275
And says a hundred thousand pretty things
As often as we meet.
_D._ A hundred thousand!
His compliments are cheap. Duck, too!
_Fl._ My lady,
’Tis what men say. It does not mean a duck.
_Kate._ ’Tis true, my lady; ’tis a common saying.
_D._ Silence! No one of you dare from this moment
To speak to me. You are all alike disgraced. 2282
And, that you are not more shamed, disgraced the more.
I shall discharge you all.
_Kate._ What! and Rose too!
_D._ To-morrow morning. Bút, Flóra, for you
I cannot think of punishment sufficient.
Merely to have had a lover,—to have concealed it,—
To have even admitted him by night,—were nothing,
Had the affair been....
_Re-enter Sir Gregory up the stairs with Tristram’s hat,
holding it up._
_G._ Found on the stairs,—the intruder’s hat, my lady: 2290
He had thrown it on the lamp to extinguish it,
And thereby is detected.
_R._ (_aside_). Now’s revelation.
_D._ Why,—but whose hat is this?
_Fl._ ’Tis his, my lady.
_R._ Is not this Tristram’s hat?
_D._ (_aside_). Hath he come hither in his servant’s
clothes?
_Fl._ It’s Tristram’s hat.
_K._ At least what’s left of it.
_D._ Came he disguised?
_Fl._ ’Twas thus, my lady. As he ran down the stairs,
I bade him dout the lamp. I did not mean
That he should burn his hat.
_D._ (_aside_). What can this be?
It can’t have been Tristram.—Answer me, Flora:
Was it master Tristram visited you to-night? 2301
_Fl._ Of course, my lady. I’d not deny it.
_D._ (_aside_). I see!
After all, only Tristram.—Came he alone?
Answer me at once.
_Fl._ I am much ashamed, my lady,
He came alone. And yet, my lady, I swear
I never bade him; nor asked him, for that matter.
I heard his step, and found him waiting there
By the big clock. How he came in I know not.
_D._ Enough: I shall discover. All leave but Flora.
[_Exeunt maids except Fl._
(_Aside._) Thank heaven they have not guessed ... and
yet how nearly 2310
My jealousy betrayed me! (_To Fl._) I told you, Flora,
I shall discharge you. Tho’I do not doubt
Tristram came here without your invitation,
Yet in concealing his pretensions from me
You have disobeyed,—deceived me.
_Fl._ I was afraid
My lady would forbid him.
_D._ Silence, girl!
Go to your room. I’ll speak of this to-morrow.
_Fl._ I hope my lady will forgive his boldness.
I have told my lady all.
_D._ Begone! begone! [_Exit Fl._
(_To R._) What think you of this, Ricardo? 2320
_R._ ’Tis the wrong fox we have hunted.
_D._ Ah, I think
Fox is the word. I half believe that Frederick
And Tristram are in league.
_R._ I guessed the truth
When Flora first confessed.
_D._ I was too hot.
_R._ You think too ill of Frederick.
_D._ Nay, Ricardo:
Do not defend him. ’Tis enough to shame him
That Tristram is his servant.
_G._ I pray my lady
Will now retire.
_D._ Yes, true, Sir Gregory.
’Tis time, high time. And let this trophy here
Be sent to its owner; and to-morrow morning 2330
Bid him come speak with me. Tell him, Ricardo.
Good-night. [_Exit Gregory lighting her out_, R.
_R._ I am now secure of her: since in my presence
She hath so consented to disgrace her idol.
He is quite dethroned: she knows too that I know.
He is past recovery. Could she but have seen him
Walking with Laura in the garden, plotting
Their flight to-morrow! And I to climb by such
A ladder of comedy, tottering with laughter,
To love’s very heaven! After three years of pain
Three days of farce, disguise, and folly; and then,
Suddenly win my joy!
_Re-enter Sir Gregory._
And thou, Sir Gregory, 2341
Shalt be my major-domo.
_G._ Eigh!
_R._ (_taking his arm_). I say,
Sir Gregory, I’ll have you for my major-domo.
[_Exeunt._