Bendish: Me? No. I find this the best thing in the world. To love her today and betray her tomorrow. To take from one to give to the other. False confidences, slander, letters, sacrifices, flatteries, scandal--mere nothings! I am ready for everything. We won't be rich in the end but we'll have a good laugh, right sir? Cadwell: Ah, I'm delighted to see you reasonable. Bendish: Oh, sir, when a devil and a hermit live together, either the devil becomes a hermit or the hermit becomes a devil, I am absolutely convinced. Well, let's see who the unfortunate lady will be whose reputation you will ruin by some new perfidy? I can clearly see that your feelings are reserved for the Marquise. Cadwell: Which one? Bendish: Why the one you long ago swore to be faithful to. Cadwell: No. I no longer love her. Bendish: Your flames are not more vehement for this good lady to whom I carried your portrait that same day? Cadwell: Ah, fie! I cannot suffer her. She paints! Bendish: And the other one--her best friend? Cadwell: She has no wit. Bendish: And the lawyer's widow? Cadwell: She isn't rich. Bendish: And her sister? Cadwell: She cannot stand the odor of tobacco. Bendish: The odor of tobacco? My God! Of all these ladies there isn't one over whom you haven't troubled my head. "Ah, Bendish, tell me she's totally charming. I will love her all my life. I will suffer a thousand deaths rather than even think of changing--" I hear you, I look at her, I examine her, I conclude you are right. The next day, I am a fool. She lacks a delicate heart. Her manners are rude; she loves you too much; she is jealous, or too indifferent; she cannot stand the odor of tobacco. You always find some fault in them to justify YOUR inconstancy. Cadwell: What do you care? Bendish: Huh? What do I care? You don't consider the false oaths I've taken time and again. Cadwell: Why do you do that? Bendish: To reestablish your tottering reputation. Cadwell: Who placed it in your care? Bendish: Oh! Oh! This isn't bad. Who made it my duty, you say? Cadwell: Yes? Bendish: My honor? Cadwell: The honor of Bendish? Bendish: Assuredly. You wouldn't have me confirm your reputation as the most rascally, the most vain, the most faithless, the least amorous man in the world would you? Cadwell: It wouldn't please me at all. Bendish: Eh! What would you have me reply to such accusations? For you're seeing only the rough draft of the portrait they paint of you these days. What would you have me say? Cadwell: Nothing. Be quiet--and begin now.