Scene XI.

The Way of the World

by William Congreve

[To them] MRS. FAINALL, FOIBLE, MINCING.

MRS. MARWOOD
O my shame! [MIRABELL and LADY go to MRS.
FAINALL and FOIBLE.] These currupt things are brought hither to
expose me. [To FAINALL.]

FAINALL
If it must all come out, why let 'em know it, 'tis
but the way of the world. That shall not urge me to relinquish or
abate one tittle of my terms; no, I will insist the more.

FOIBLE
Yes, indeed, madam; I'll take my bible-oath of it.

MINCING
And so will I, mem.

LADY WISHFORT
O Marwood, Marwood, art thou false? My friend
deceive me? Hast thou been a wicked accomplice with that profligate
man?

MRS. MARWOOD
Have you so much ingratitude and injustice to
give credit, against your friend, to the aspersions of two such
mercenary trulls?

MINCING
Mercenary, mem? I scorn your words. 'Tis true we
found you and Mr. Fainall in the blue garret; by the same token, you
swore us to secrecy upon Messalinas's poems. Mercenary? No, if we
would have been mercenary, we should have held our tongues; you would
have bribed us sufficiently.

FAINALL
Go, you are an insignificant thing. Well, what are
you the better for this? Is this Mr. Mirabell's expedient? I'll be
put off no longer. You, thing, that was a wife, shall smart for
this. I will not leave thee wherewithal to hide thy shame: your
body shall be naked as your reputation.

MRS. FAINALL
I despise you and defy your malice. You have
aspersed me wrongfully--I have proved your falsehood. Go, you and
your treacherous--I will not name it, but starve together.
Perish.

FAINALL
Not while you are worth a groat, indeed, my dear.
Madam, I'll be fooled no longer.

LADY WISHFORT
Ah, Mr. Mirabell, this is small comfort, the
detection of this affair.

MIRABELL
Oh, in good time. Your leave for the other
offender and penitent to appear, madam.