Bramble Now, I must dissimulate to keep the peace at home, and to preserve my honor before the world.
Tuneless
Very good. But, remember the essential thing. Send your nephew to the
Indies.
Bramble
To the Indies. I will spare nothing to get him there.
Tuneless Here—begin your dissimulation with the Countess. Go joke with her about the trick she played on you, and joke in the faces of all those who do nothing but laugh behind your back.
Bramble
That's the role I've got to take.
(Exit Bramble. After a moment, enter Lucy from another direction.)
Lucy
Well, Tuneless?
Tuneless I've brought him to the point at which I want him. He will dissimulate. But, I had trouble calming his rage.
Lucy The rage of my mistress is very violent. To soften it, she fainted twice.
Tuneless It's the strength of women to have such little weaknesses ready at their command. For when these great accidents occur—the attack is very strong—and a woman saves herself by fainting or weeping.