(Exit Lucy and Arabella. Enter Tuneless and Bramble.)
Tuneless Yes, sir, it's dissimulation that keeps society going between men— civil and matrimonial.
Bramble
Ouf!
Tuneless Under the shelter of dissimulation, courtiers embrace each other, women compliment each other, and authors bow to each other at a distance. Dissimulation creates new friendships and smoothes over old hatreds.
Bramble
Ouf!
Tuneless Without dissimulation, how many secret separations would grow into public divorces. But dissimulation gives wisdom to men, joy to husbands—that's why there are so many happy families at present.
Bramble
Ah, my dear Tuneless—
Tuneless You begin to dissimulate—. You hide from me your fear that I might reveal to your wife your passion for— Don't worry, I am discreet, and she herself cannot prove, even if she suspects, that you took her for Arabella—for you spoke low and she fainted.
Bramble
I am furious when I think—
Tuneless
That she didn't faint?