Act IV, Scene IV

Enter CHREMES, hastily, from DEMIPHO’S house.

CHREM. Ha! Demipho, has the money been paid him yet?

DEM. I took care immediately.

CHREM. I wish it hadn’t been paid him. (On seeing NAUSISTRATA, aside.) Halloo, I espy my wife; I had almost said more than I ought.

DEM. Why do you wish I hadn’t, Chremes?

CHREM. It’s all right.

DEM. What say you? Have you been letting her know why we are going to bring her? (pointing to NAUSISTRATA.)

CHREM. I’ve arranged it.

DEM. Pray, what does she say?

CHREM. She can’t be got to leave.

DEM. Why can’t she?

CHREM. Because they are fond of one another.

DEM. What’s that to us?

CHREM. (apart, to DEMIPHO.) A great deal; besides that, I’ve found out that she is related to us.

DEM. (apart.) What! You are mad, surely.

CHREM. (apart.) So you will find; I don’t speak at random; I’ve recovered my recollection.

DEM. (apart.) Are you quite in your senses?

CHREM. (apart.) Nay, prithee, do take care not to injure your kinswoman.

DEM. (apart.) She is not.

CHREM. (apart.) Don’t deny it; her father went by another name; that was the cause of your mistake.

DEM. (apart.) Did she not know who was her father?

CHREM. (apart.) She did.

DEM. (apart.) Why did she call him by another name?

CHREM. (apart, frowning.) Will you never yield to me, nor understand what I mean?

DEM. (apart.) If you don’t tell me of any thing----

CHREM. (impatiently.) Do you persist?

NAUS. I wonder what all this can be.

DEM. For my part, upon my faith, I don’t know.

CHREM. (whispering to him.) Would you like to know? Then, so may Jupiter preserve me, not a person is there more nearly related to her than are you and I.

DEM. (starting.) Ye Gods, by our trust in you! let’s away to her; I wish for all of us, one way or other, to be sure about this (going).

CHREM. (stopping him.) Ah!

DEM. What’s the matter?

CHREM. That you should put so little confidence in me!

DEM. Do you wish me to believe you? Do you wish me to consider this as quite certain? Very well, be it so. Well, what’s to be done with our friend’s daughter?

CHREM. She’ll do well enough.

DEM. Are we to drop her, then?

CHREM. Why not?

DEM. The other one to stop?

CHREM. Just so.

DEM. You may go then, Nausistrata.

NAUS. I’ faith, I think it better for all that she should remain here as it is, than as you first intended; for she seemed to me a very genteel person when I saw her. (Goes into her house.)