id="id00296">Selina:
What do you see, madam?

Arabella:
I admire your pin. The diamonds are very nice. They're well set.

Selina:
You find it beautiful, madam? I am delighted that it is to your taste.

Arabella:
You've had it for some time, madam?

Selina:
A very long time, madam, but I rarely wear it.

Arabella: (aside) Am I deceived? (looking at the pin) With your permission, madam. No, madam, it is not so long as you say.

Selina:
I tell you truly, madam.

Arabella:
I know what I say, madam.

Selina:
And I, madam, know when your questions begin to tire me.

Arabella:
But please, tell me how you got it.

Selina:
I don't have to give you an account of it.

Arabella:
Where did you buy it?

Selina:
Let's end this if you please—

Arabella:
It must have cost you a lot.

Selina: (noticing on Arabella the watch she sent to Cadwell)
It cost me, madam, it cost me—more than you paid for your watch.

Arabella: What balderdash are you giving me, madam? What has my watch got to do with the pin I spoke of?

Selina: Madam, let's not enter further into an aggravating explanation. In these affairs the best way is to let things pass in silence. They are most unfortunate when discovered. In this adventure, at least, if we lose our lover, we at least get our jewelry back. I am going to return your pin—or I will keep it if you want to keep my watch.

Arabella: No, madam, I don't wish to keep anything that would give me the least reminder of the greatest villain in the world.

Selina: (giving the pin)
Here, madam, is your pin.

Arabella: (giving the watch)
And here's your watch.

(Enter Jenny)

Jenny:
What swap are you making? I want to see it.

Selina: It's nothing, Jenny. (to Arabella) Goodbye, madam, I am going to take your carriage.

Arabella:
Don't keep it.

Selina:
I am not going far.

Jenny:
Madam is coming here.

Selina:
I just remembered something pressing.

(Exit Selina)

Arabella:
Your mistress is coming you say?

Jenny:
I hear her.

Arabella:
I intend to avenge myself on the perfidy of Cadwell right away.

(Exit Jenny) (Enter Laura)

Laura:
Madam, I am in despair for having made you wait so long.

Arabella:
I've come to tell you something which will surprise you the most.

Laura:
Don't delay, madam, for I'm already impatient about—

Arabella: (interrupting her)
No, madam, if you please this will be in front of Cadwell.

Laura:
What role does he have to play in what you have to tell me?

Arabella: I intend to reveal to you what is in the heart of a man you esteem a little too much.

Laura: (pointing to the door to Cadwell's apartment)
Madam, there's the door to his apartment. (calling) Jenny, Jenny.

(Enter Jenny)

Jenny:
Madam?

Laura:
Tell Cadwell that madam (pointing to Arabella) wishes to speak to him.

Jenny:
Cadwell. He left, more than an hour ago, madam.

Laura: Fine! (Jenny exits) (to Arabella) I am not to know then, madam, what it is that is so important for me to learn?

Arabella: Abuse me. No, madam, I repeat to you, Cadwell doesn't deserve any consideration from a person like you.

Laura: You appear to me to be sufficiently well instructed, madam, and the manner in which you speak, will begin to displease me if you continue to hide from me the reason—

Arabella: Well, madam, learn to your shame and mine that Cadwell is deceiving us both; that he is the most villainous of men, and that having been disabused of his lies myself, I believe I ought to bring you out of your error.

Laura: You oblige me much, madam, although a trifle late. You will permit me to say without getting angry that you would easily console me in my error if you were still in yours.

Arabella: Cadwell easily made me believe all that he wished, madam. There are explanations between us, him, you and me that—

Laura: (interrupting her) Ah, madam, such explanations between three people are usually irritating. Avoid them, and give me without them all the proofs that you can of his infidelity.

Arabella:
You are going to see all of Cadwell, madam.

Laura: (aside)
Ah—inconsistent man—

(Enter Bendish)

Bendish: (aside, staying at a distance)
They're talking about my master.

Arabella:
I will render you certain.

Laura: (aside)
Faithless!

Bendish:
That's him.

Arabella: (pulling out a letter from her purse and presenting it to
Laura)
Here, madam. Read!

Laura: (aside)
Traitor! Infidel!

Bendish:
Oh, surely that's him. I recognize the epithets. Let's hear.

Arabella:
This is the only letter of the thirty or so he wrote me that I have
kept. One of my women imprudently took the others from my drawer.
Happily I had this one about my person. It will suffice.

Bendish:
I believe we'll have to move a little sooner than we thought.

(Laura takes the letter and reads it to herself)

Arabella: (after Laura has finished the letter)
Well? What do you say to that, madam?

Laura:
Alas, madam, what can I say? I can say nothing.

Arabella:
You take this affair with plenty of moderation.

Laura:
Rumor is helpful.

Bendish: (aside)
Please God we may be rid of that rumor.

Arabella:
Adieu, madam.

Laura:
Madam, I bid you good day.

Arabella:
Aren't you going to give me back my letter?

Laura:
Please leave it here with me.

Arabella:
These sorts of things are not good in the hands of interested parties.

Laura:
It won't leave my hands.

Arabella: Goodbye then, madam. (Seeing Laura is going to escort her out and preventing it) Madam, where are you going?

Laura:
Madam, I leave you. It's just as well, I am in no condition.

Arabella: (interrupting her)
Go back in then.

(Exit Arabella)

Bendish: (aside) I can see it plainly. Our good fortune is going to cause us to flee to the country. Just heaven!

Laura: (perceiving Bendish)
Ah, Bendish, where is your master?

Bendish:
I believe he went to do something.

Laura: Go tell him to come to me as soon as possible. As soon as