Laura: No, no. I mean for you to explain yourself. I can justify myself very easily and I will have some pleasure in doing so after the blackest, most cowardly-- Continue once more. What letter do you wish to speak to me of? Cadwell: Oh, madam, what's the use of it? The letter Bendish gave you yesterday. Laura: To me? Cadwell: To you, madam. Laura: I received a letter. Cadwell: Uh, you yourself, madam. Laura: Which Bendish brought? Cadwell: He himself. Laura: That's not true. Cadwell: Bendish? Bendish: Sir? Cadwell: Didn't I write a letter yesterday? Bendish: Yes, sir. Cadwell: Didn't I tell you to take it to London? Bendish: That's true. Cadwell: To whom did you take it? Bendish: To whom? Cadwell: Yes, idiot! To whom? Wasn't it madam? Bendish: Yes, sir. Cadwell: Didn't you come express? Bendish: I remain in agreement. Cadwell: Didn't you enter this lodging to give it to her? Bendish: That's certain. Cadwell: Well-what did you do with it, you ass. Answer. Bendish: Sir. Cadwell: (interrupting him) You lost it, right? Bendish: Sir, when I came to madam's room to put it in her hands-- (hesitating) Cadwell: Well? Bendish: I couldn't find it. Cadwell: Ah, fool! (to Laura) Madam, I beg your pardon. (to Bendish, pretending to menace him) I don't know what prevents me-- (to Laura) I am in despair to have accused you so unjustly as I have done. (to Bendish) Find the letter, rogue! Was someone in the room? Bendish: There were a lot of people, sir. Cadwell: My letter will be lost! This is awful! In it I begged you to spend some time in the country with me and my aunt. And whoever has found it has used it to shred our relationship.-- But please, madam, while I am unable to disguise the cause of my chagrin--explain to me what has aroused you so seriously against me. Laura: Oh, your dodge is very adroit, I admit. And I might be silly enough to believe you if your letter could agree with what you tell me. I have the letter. It is in my hands. I won't tell you how I got it. But let's see if you can explain away all the scorn it expresses for me. Cadwell: Scorn for you? Laura: Yes, cruel man--and in all it's spite. (pulls out the letter) Listen. "I am in the country for the last two days and without Laura. The complaisance that I am obliged to show a sick aunt makes me stay in a strange solitude. Couldn't you try to render my condition supportable. If you do not take it on yourself, Laura and the whole world together cannot help me. I will never love and never adore anyone but you in my life. Adieu." Bendish: We shall see that someone counterfeited his signature. What will he say?