DUKE  Thou know’st how willingly I would effect

The match between Sir Thurio and my daughter?

PROTEUS       I do, my lord.

DUKE And also, I think, thou art not ignorant

How she opposes her against my will?

PROTEUS She did, my lord, when Valentine was here.

DUKE Ay, and perversely she persevers so.

What might we do to make the girl forget

The love of Valentine and love Sir Thurio?                        (3.1.22-30)

Proteus has to remain circumspect, proper; he can also be conflicted and tense, because he’s still engaged in deceiving the Duke, and now it’s Thurio who will be the collateral damage. Look, says the Duke, thou know’st how willingly I would effect the match between Sir Thurio and my daughter? I’m really keen for this to progress. (As if it’s a business merger they’re discussing, partly. The weird thing of not naming Silvia continues; she’s my daughter, or the girl.) I do, my lord, yes, absolutely. And also, I think, thou art not ignorant how she opposes her against my will? Slightly more confiding now, perhaps a bit embarrassed: and you know she’s not keen, that she’s so far defying me in this? Proteus, factual, deferential again—but just feeding in Valentine’s name, to remind the Duke who was to blame. She did, my lord, when Valentine was here. Ay, and perversely she persevers so. That’s the problem, she’s obstinate, strong-willed, sticking to her opposition and her preference for Valentine. So what might we do to make the girl forget the love of Valentine and love Sir Thurio? How do we proceed, in order to shift the dial? (It does sound like business chat. A golf course would work.) We is the crucial bit, that Proteus might half smirk at. The Duke trusts him, values his opinion and advice. He’s in. (Does Thurio even notice?) Still got to tread carefully though.