e, that must be, is his mistress. I did a little suspect it
before. Well, I must marry her, because she's handsome, and because I
hate to be disinherited by a younger brother, which I am sure I shall
be, if I disobey; and yet I must keep in with Rhodophil, because I
love his wife.--[_To_ RHO.] I must desire you to make my excuse to
your lady, if I have been so unfortunate to cause any mistake; and,
withal, to beg the honour of being known to her.

_Rho._ O, that is but reason.--Hark you, spouse, pray look upon this
gentleman as my friend; whom, to my knowledge, you have never seen
before this hour.

_Dor._ I am so obedient a wife, sir, that my husband's commands shall
ever be a law to me.

_Enter_ MELANTHA _again, hastily, and runs to embrace_ DORALICE.

_Mel._ O, my dear, I was just going to pay my devoirs to you; I had
not time this morning, for making my court to the king, and our new
prince. Well, never nation was so happy, and all that, in a young
prince; and he is the kindest person in the world to me, let me die if
he is not.

_Dor._ He has been bred up far from court, and therefore--

_Mel._ That imports not: Though he has not seen the _grand monde_, and
all that, let me die but he has the air of the court most absolutely.

_Pala._ But yet, madam, he--

_Mel._ O, servant, you can testify that I am in his good graces. Well,
I cannot stay long with you, because I have promised him this
afternoon to--But hark you, my dear, I'll tell you a secret.
[_Whispers to_ DOR.

_Rho._ The devil's in me, that I must love this woman. [_Aside._

_Pala._ The devil's in me, that I must marry this woman. [_Aside._

_Mel._ [_Raising her voice._] So the prince and I--But you must make a
secret of this, my dear; for I would not for the world your husband
should hear it, or my tyrant, there, that must be.

_Pala._ Well, fair impertinent, your whisper is not lost, we hear you.
[_Aside._

_Dor._ I understand then, that--

_Mel._ I'll tell you, my dear, the prince took me by the hand, and
pressed it _a la derobbee_, because the king was near, made the _doux
yeux_ to me, and, _ensuite_, said a thousand gallantries, or let me
die, my dear.

_Dor._ Then I am sure you--

_Mel._ You are mistaken, my dear.

_Dor._ What, before I speak?

_Mel._ But I know your meaning. You think, my dear, that I assume