CHARLES.Sir Peter--This is one of the smartest French Milliners I ever saw!--Egad, you seem all to have been diverting yourselves here at Hide and Seek--and I don't see who is out of the Secret!--Shall I beg your Ladyship to inform me!--Not a word!--Brother!--will you please to explain this matter? What! is Honesty Dumb too?--Sir Peter, though I found you in the Dark--perhaps you are not so now--all mute! Well tho' I can make nothing of the Affair, I make no doubt but you perfectly understand one another--so I'll leave you to yourselves.--[Going.] Brother I'm sorry to find you have given that worthy man grounds for so much uneasiness!--Sir Peter--there's nothing in the world so noble as a man of Sentiment!--[Stand for some time looking at one another.Exit CHARLES.]
SURFACE.Sir Peter--notwithstanding I confess that appearances are against me.If you will afford me your Patience I make no doubt but I shall explain everything to your satisfaction.--SIR PETER.If you please--Sir--
SURFACE.The Fact is Sir--that Lady Teazle knowing my Pretensions to your ward Maria--I say Sir Lady Teazle--being apprehensive of the Jealousy of your Temper--and knowing my Friendship to the Family.She Sir--I say call'd here--in order that I might explain those Pretensions--but on your coming being apprehensive--as I said of your Jealousy--she withdrew--and this, you may depend on't is the whole truth of the Matter.
SIR PETER.A very clear account upon the [my] word and I dare swear the Lady will vouch for every article of it.
LADY TEAZLE.For not one word of it Sir Peter--SIR PETER.How[!] don't you think it worthwhile to agree in the lie.
LADY TEAZLE.There is not one Syllable of Truth in what that Gentleman has told you.
SIR PETER.I believe you upon my soul Ma'am--SURFACE.'Sdeath, madam, will you betray me! [Aside.]
LADY TEAZLE.Good Mr.Hypocrite by your leave I will speak for myself--SIR PETER.Aye let her alone Sir--you'll find she'll make out a better story than you without Prompting.
LADY TEAZLE.Hear me Sir Peter--I came hither on no matter relating to your ward and even ignorant of this Gentleman's pretensions to her--but I came--seduced by his insidious arguments--and pretended Passion[--]at least to listen to his dishonourable Love if not to sacrifice your Honour to his Baseness.
SIR PETER.Now, I believe, the Truth is coming indeed[.]
SURFACE.The Woman's mad--
LADY TEAZLE.No Sir--she has recovered her Senses.Your own Arts have furnished her with the means.Sir Peter--I do not expect you to credit me--but the Tenderness you express'd for me, when I am sure you could not think I was a witness to it, has penetrated so to my Heart that had I left the Place without the Shame of this discovery--my future life should have spoken the sincerity of my Gratitude--as for that smooth-tongued Hypocrite--who would have seduced the wife of his too credulous Friend while he pretended honourable addresses to his ward--I behold him now in a light so truly despicable that I shall never again Respect myself for having Listened to him.
[Exit.]
SURFACE.Notwithstanding all this Sir Peter--Heaven knows----SIR PETER.That you are a Villain!--and so I leave you to your conscience--SURFACE.You are too Rash Sir Peter--you SHALL hear me--The man who shuts out conviction by refusing to----[Exeunt, SURFACE following and speaking.]
END OF THE FOURTH