Enter Sarsnet.
Town. A narrow escape, Sarsnet! Plotwells letter was intercepted and read by my husband.
Sars. I tremble every joint of me. How came you off?
Town. Invention flow'd, I ly'd, he believ'd. True wife, true husband!
Sars. I have often warned you, madam, against this superfluity of gallants; you ought at least to have clear'd all mortgages upon your person before you leas'd it out for life. Then, besides Plotwell, you are every moment in danger of Underplot, who attends on Plotwell like his shadow; he is unlucky enough to stumble upon your husband, and then I'm sure his shatterbrains would undo us at once.
Town. Thy wit and industry, Sarsnet, must help me out. To day is mine, to morrow is my husband's.
Sars. But some speedy method must be thought of, to prevent your letters from falling into his hands.
Town. I can put no confidence in my landlady Mrs. Chambers, since our quarrel at parting. So I have given orders to her maid to direct all letters and messages hither, and I have plac'd my own trusty servant Hugh at the door to receive them—but see, yonder comes my husband, I'll retire to my closet.
[Exit Townley and Sarsnet.
Enter Fossile.
Foss. O marriage, thou bitterest of potions, and thou strongest of astringents. This Plotwell that I found talking with her must certainly be the person that sent the letter. But if I have a Bristol stone put upon me instead of a diamond, why should I by experiments spoil its lustre? She is handsome, that is certain. Could I but keep her to myself for the future! Cuckoldom is an accute case, it is quickly over; when it takes place, it admits of no remedy but palliatives.——Be it how it will, while my marriage is a secret——