Non.  What shall I do in this case?  My comfort is, my gold’s all marked.

Const.  Will you suspect a gentleman of Loveby’s worth, upon the bare report of such a rascal as this Failer?

Non.  Hold thy tongue, I charge thee; upon my blessing hold thy tongue.  I’ll have him apprehended before he sleeps; come along with me, Mr Failer.

Fail.  Burr, look well to Sir Timorous; I’ll be with you instantly.

Const.  I’ll watch you by your favour. [Aside. [Exeunt NONSUCH and FAILER, CONSTANCE following them.

Isa.  A word, Sir Timorous.

Burr. [Gets behind.] She shall have a course at the knight, and come up to him, but when she is just ready to pinch, he shall give such a loose from her, shall break her heart.

Isa.  Burr there still, and watching us?  There’s certainly some plot in this, but I’ll turn it to my own advantage. [Aside.

Tim.  Did you mark Burr’s retirement, madam?

Isa Ay; his guilt, it seems, makes him shun your company.

Tim.  In what can he be guilty?

Isa.  You must needs know it; he courts your mistress.

Tim.  Is he, too, in love with my lady Constance?

Isa.  No, no:  but, which is worse, he courts me.

Tim.  Why, what have I to do with you?  You know I care not this for you.

Isa.  Perhaps so; but he thought you did:  and good reason for it.

Tim.  What reason, madam?

Isa.  The most convincing in the world:  He knew my cousin Constance never loved you:  He has heard her say, you were as invincibly ignorant as a town-fop judging a new play:  as shame-faced as a great overgrown school-boy:  in fine, good for nothing but to be wormed out of your estate, and sacrificed to the god of laughter.

Tim.  Was your cousin so barbarous to say this?

Isa.  In his hearing.

Tim.  And would he let me proceed in my suit to her?

Isa.  For that I must excuse him; he never thought you could love one of my cousin’s humour; but took your court to her, only as a blind to your affection for me; and, being possessed with that opinion, he thought himself as worthy as you to marry me.

Tim.  He is not half so worthy; and so I’ll tell him, in a fair way.

Burr. [To a Boy entering.] Sirrah, boy, deliver this note to madam Isabella; but be not known I am so near.

Boy.  I warrant you, sir.

Burr.  Now, Fortune, all I desire of thee is, that Sir Timorous may see it; if he once be brought to believe there is a kindness between her and me, it will ruin all her projects.

Isa. [To the Boy.] From whom?

Boy.  From Mr Burr, madam.