_Isa._ A lover's dangers are the only secrets kept from his mistress; he came not to you because he would not purchase his happiness with your fear and apprehensions. _Chris._ Nay, he is come, I see, since you are come about again of his side. _Isa._ Will you go in, madam, and disprove me, if you can? 'tis better than standing in the street. _Chris._ We'll go a little further first, and return. [_Exeunt._ SCENE V.--VINCENT'S _Lodging._ _Enter_ VINCENT _and_ VALENTINE. _Vin._ I told you I had sent my man to Christina's this morning, to inquire of her maid, (who seldom denies him a secret,) if her lady had been at the Park last night; which she peremptorily answered to the contrary, and assured him she had not stirred out since your departure. _Val._ Will not chambermaids lie, Vincent? _Vin._ Will not Ranger lie, Valentine? _Val._ The circumstances of his story proved it true. _Vin._ Do you think so old a master in the faculty as he will want the varnish of probability for his lies? _Val._ Do you think a woman, having the advantage of her sex, and education under such a mistress, will want impudence to disavow a truth that might be prejudicial to that mistress? _Vin._ But if both testimonies are fallible, why will you needs believe his? we are apter to believe the things we would have, than those we would not. _Val._ My ill luck has taught me to credit my misfortunes and doubt my happiness. _Vin._ But fortune we know is inconstant. _Val._ And all of her sex. _Vin._ Will you judge of fortune by your experience, and not do your mistress the same justice? Go see her, and satisfy yourself and her; for if she be innocent, consider how culpable you are, not only in your censures of her, but in not seeing her since your coming. _Val._ If she be innocent, I should be afraid to surprise her, for her sake; if false, I should be afraid to surprise her for my own. _Vin._ To be jealous and not inquisitive is as hard as to love extremely and not to be something jealous. _Val._ Inquisitiveness as seldom cures jealousy, as drinking in a fever quenches the thirst. _Vin._ If she were at the Park last night, 'tis probable she'll not miss this. Go watch her house, see who goes out, who in; while I, in the meantime, search out Ranger: who, I'll pawn my life, upon more discourse shall avow his mistake.--Here he is; go in:--how luckily is he come! [VALENTINE _retires to the door behind._ _Enter_ RANGER. Ranger, you have prevented me: I was going to look you out, between the scenes at the playhouse, the coffee-house, tennis-court, or Gifford's.[46] _Ran._ Do you want a pretence to go to a bawdy-house?--but I have other visits to make. _Vin._ I forget. I should rather have sought you in Christina's lodgings, ha! ha! ha! _Ran._ Well, well, I'm just come to tell you that Christina-- _Vin._ Proves not, by daylight, the kind lady you followed last night out of the Park.