The Puritaine Widdow Part 16

pye.

Aye, aye, that I will. Look, Sergeants, here are Maps, and pretty toys: be doing in the mean time. I shall quickly have told out the money, you know.

PUT.

Go, go, little villain, fetch thy chinck. I begin to love thee; I'll be drunk to night in thy company.

PYE.

[Aside.] This Gentleman I may well call a part Of my salvation, in these earthly evils, For he has saved me from three hungry Devils.

[Exit George.]

PUT.

Sirrah Sergeant, these Maps are pretty painted things, but I could ne'er fancy 'em yet: me thinks they're too busy, and full of Circles and Conjurations; they say all the world's in one of them, but I could ne'er find the Counter in the Poultry.

RAVEN.

I think so: how could you find it? for you know, it stands behind the houses.

DOGSON.

Ma.s.s, that's true; then we must look ath' back-side fort.

Sfoot, here's nothing, all's bare.

RAVEN.

I warrant thee, that stands for the Counter, for you know there's a company of bare fellows there.

PUT.

Faith, like enough, Sergeant; I never marked so much before.

Sirrah Sergeant, and Yeoman, I should love these Maps out a cry now, if we could see men peep out of door in em: oh, we might have em in a morning to our Break-fast so finely, and ne'er knock our heels to the ground a whole day for em.

RAVEN.

Aye, marry, sir, I'd buy one then my self. But this talk is by the way: where shall's sup to night? Five pound receiv'd! let's talk of that. I have a trick worth all: you two shall bear him to 'th Tavern, whilst I go close with his Hostess, and work out of her. I know she would be glad of the sum to finger money, because she knows tis but a desperate debt, and full of hazard. What will you say, if I bring it to pa.s.s that the Hostess shall be contented with one half for all; and we to share tother fifty-shillings, bullies?

PUT.

Why, I would call thee King of Sergeants, and thou shouldst be Chronicled in the Counter book for ever.

RAVEN.

Well, put it to me, we'll make a Night on't, yfaith.

DOGSON.

Sfoot, I think he receives a more money, he stays so long.

PUT.

He tarries long, indeed: may be, I can tell you, upon the good liking ont the Gentleman may prove more bountiful.

RAVEN.

That would be rare; we'll search him.

PUT.

Nay, be sure of it, we'll search him! and make him light enough.

[Enter the Gentleman.]

RAVEN.

Oh, here comes the Gentleman. By your leave, sir.

GENTLEMAN.

G.o.d you G.o.d den, sirs,--would you speak with me?

PUT.

No, not with your worship, sir; only we are bold to stay for a friend of ours that went in with your worship.

GENTLEMAN.

Who? not the scholar?

PUT.

Yes, e'en he, and it please your worship.

GENTLEMAN.

Did he make you stay for him? he did you wrong, then: why, I can a.s.sure you he's gone above an hour ago.

RAVEN.

How, sir?

GENTLEMAN.

I paid him his money, and my man told me he went out at back-door.

PUT.

Back-door?

GENTLEMAN.

Why, what's the matter?

PUT.

He was our prisoner, sir; we did arrest him.

GENTLEMAN.

What! he was not! you the Sheriff's Officers! You were to blame then. Why did you no make known to me as much? I could have kept him for you: I protest he received all of me in Britain Gold of the last coining.

RAVEN.

Vengeance dog him with't!

PUT.

Sfott, has he guiled us so?

DOGSON.

Where shall we sup now Sergeant?

PUT.

Sup, Simon, now! eat Porridge for a month. Well, we cannot impute it to any lack of good-will in your Worship,--you did but as another would have done: twas our hard fortunes to miss the purchase, but if e'er we clutch him again, the Counter shall charm him.