The School For Scandal [32]
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. S
he 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
ACT V
SCENE I.--The Library
Enter SURFACE and SERVANT
SURFACE. Mr. Stanley! and why should you think I would see him?--
you must know he came to ask something!
SERVANT. Sir--I shouldn't have let him in but that Mr. Rowley
came to the Door with him.
SURFACE. Pshaw!--Blockhead to suppose that I should now be in
a Temper to receive visits from poor Relations!--well why don't
you show the Fellow up?
SERVANT. I will--Sir--Why, Sir--it was not my Fault that Sir Peter
discover'd my Lady----
SURFACE. Go, fool!--
[Exit SERVANT.]
Sure Fortune never play'd a man of my policy such a Trick before--
my character with Sir Peter!--my Hopes with Maria!--destroy'd in
a moment!--I'm in a rare Humour to