Worthy
We've got to marry her.
Scratch
That's understood. You will be married, and I will be hanged.
Worthy
I've got an idea for a plan--you know Lovelace?
Scratch
Certainly.
Worthy
We can take refuge with such a friend. His country house is not far
off. It's with Lovelace, that I intend to choose an exile in leaving
these parts. There, braving the scorn and rage of the jealous would-be
husband--we will prepare, in this place, and we will manage to marry,
and make love--
(Enter Albert.)
Albert
Oh, sir, forgive the boredom which possesses me; I came back to find
some remedy. This is your man?
Worthy
Yes, he is.
Albert
Please tell him to employ himself in aiding me today.
Worthy
And what can he do for you? Speak!
Albert
He deigned, earlier, to inform me of his medical knowledge. He has a
thousand secret cures for many illnesses. Perhaps, he has one for
weak-mindedness?
Scratch
Yes, yes, I have more than one--of those salutary effects. But you
treated me in a manner, rather--
Albert
Ah, sir--
Scratch
To refuse to give a chap the time of day--
Albert
Forgive my error.
Scratch
Nowhere in my life did anyone ever treat me so--not even in Barbary.
Albert (piteously)
Oh, can you see a thing, so charming, put an end to her days, without
giving aid? (to Worthy) Sir, speak for me.
Worthy
Scratch, I beg you, try to cure the evil this pretty lady is suffering
from.
Scratch
For you, once again, I sacrifice my resentment. Yes, I will cure her--
and radically.
Albert
What--you can--?
Scratch
Go in. I am going to search my book for the most appropriate cure. You
will soon see me in operation.
Albert
I cannot express my feeling of obligation. May it be more safe than my
fortune or my life.
(Exit Albert.)
Scratch
Go, I know nothing, and she won't be cured.
Worthy
What made you say that? What happy fate made you become a physician in
his eyes?
Scratch
Word of honor, I know nothing about it. What I can tell you, is that
as soon as I saw him, after he intercepted me, to disguise my plan and
hide myself the better, I told him I was looking for some medicinal
herbs hereabouts, and that I had admirable secret cures for all sorts
of ills, and, in short, could cure, the incurable. And that's exactly
how he made his mistake.
Worth
We must profit by it now. In my heart, I feel the rebirth of hope and
joy. Come, let's consider--and see by what means we can succeed in our
noble project and bring forth your brilliant medicinal art and secret
remedies.
Scratch
Me? I'm ready for anything. But, it's useless to undertake a project
without the first ingredient. We have no money. Who will give us any?
Worthy (showing the letter)
Love will provide for us.
Scratch
Love will provide it? It seems as though billet douxs have become
bills of exchanges. Strange.
CURTAIN
ACT III.
Scene: Same as Act II, later that day towards dusk.
(Enter Worthy.)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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