POM. In your arms! (_Aside._ Confounds himself with his wife.) Perhaps you had better explain, my friend? TRIP. Nay, sir--be yours the pleasing duty! VANE. In one word, Sir Charles Pomander, why are you here? and for what purpose am I sent for? POM. In two words my dear fellow, I don't choose to tell you why I am here--and 'twas not I who sent for you. VANE (_to Triplet_). Speak, sirrah--your riddling message! TRIP. There's nothing for it but the truth. Then, sir--the friend I expected you would find here was Mrs.---- POM. (_to Trip._). Stop, my deplorable-looking friend: (_to Vane_) when the answer to such a question begins with a mistress, I think you had better not enquire further: (_to Trip._) Don't complete the name. VANE. I command you to complete it, or---- TRIP. Gentlemen, gentlemen, how am I to satisfy both of you? POM. My dear Vane, remember it is a lady's secret--the only thing in the world one is bound to keep, except one's temper, which, by-the-bye, you're losing rapidly. VANE (_aside_). He spoke of griefs and suspicions to be forgiven and forgotten. Mabel has left my house. (_crosses to C._) Sir Charles Pomander, I insist on knowing who this lady is. If it is as I fear, I have the best right to ask. POM. But the worst right to be answered. VANE. How am I to construe this tone, sir? POM. Do as we did at school with a troublesome passage--don't construe it at all. VANE. Sir Charles Pomander, you are impertinent. POM. My dear Vane, you are in a passion. VANE. By heaven, sir---- TRIP. Gentlemen, gentlemen, I give you my word. Mr. Vane, she does not know of Sir Charles Pomander's presence here. VANE. She? s'death, who? TRIP. Mrs. Vane! VANE. My wife--here--and with him? TRIP. No--not with _him!_ POM. I regret to contradict you, my dilapidated friend, or to hurt you, my dear Vane; but really, in self-defence--you know this signature (_offers paper written by Woffington_). VANE. Mabel's hand! POM. Yes--what my attentions began, your little peccadilloes finished--cause and effect, my dear fellow,--pure cause and effect. VANE. Coxcomb and slanderer! draw and defend yourself. [_draws._ POM. If you will have it! [_draws._ TRIP. (_throwing himself between them_). Hold! hold! (_Woffington suddenly opens the inner room door, and presents herself at the threshold: her hood is drawn over her face_). TRIP. Mrs. Vane! VANE. Mabel! wife! say that this is not true--that you were lured by stratagem. Oh, speak! belie this coxcomb! You know how bitterly I repented the infatuation that brought me to the feet of another. (_Woffington bursts into a laugh, and throws back the hood._) POM. Woffington! VANE. She here! WOFF. There, Sir Charles, did I not wager he would confess he was heartily ashamed of himself? (_crosses to C._) TRIP. (_aside_). I have a glimmer of comprehension. WOFF. Yes--we have had our laugh--and Mr. Vane his lesson; as for Mrs. Vane--this way, madam, and satisfy yourself. (_Mabel appears._)