Const.  I am ruined, cousin.

[Aside.

Isa.  I warrant you.—­My lord, I wish her well married to Sir Timorous; but Loveby will certainly infect him with the news of her great belly.

Non.  I’ll dispatch it, ere he can speak with him.

Isa.  Whene’er he comes, he’ll see what a bona roba she is grown.

Non.  Therefore, it shall be done i’the evening.

Isa.  It shall, my lord.

Const.  Shall it?

[Aside.

Isa.  Let me alone, cousin.—­And to this effect she shall write to him, that, to conform to your will, and his modesty, she desires him to come hither alone this evening.

Non.  Excellent wench!—­I’ll get my chaplain ready.

[Exit NONSUCH.

Const.  How can you hope to deceive my father?

Isa.  If I don’t, I have hard luck.

Const.  You go so strange a way about, your bowl must be well bias’d to come in.

Isa.  So plain a ground, there’s not the least rub in’t.  I’ll meet Sir Timorous in the dark; and, in your room, marry him.

Const.  You’ll be sure to provide for one.

Isa.  You mistake me, cousin:—­Oh! here’s Setstone again.

Enter SETSTONE.

Mr Jeweller, you must again into your devil’s shape, and speak with
Loveby.  But pray be careful not to be discovered.

Set.  I warrant you, madam.  I have cozened wiser men than he in my own shape; and, if I cannot continue it in a worse, let the devil, I make bold with, e’en make as bold with me.

Isa.  You must guide him, by back ways, to my uncle’s house, and so to my cousin’s chamber, that he may not know where he is when he comes there.  The rest I’ll tell you as we go along.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III.

Enter TIMOROUS; after him BURR and FAILER.

Tim.  Here, here, read this note; there’s news for us.

Fail.  Let me see’t. [Reads.

Sir Timorous, Be at the garden-door at nine this evening; there I’ll receive you with my daughter.  To gratify your modesty I designed this way, after I had better considered on it:  and pray leave your caterpillars, Burr and Failer, behind you.  Yours, Nonsuch.

There is some trick in this, whate’er it be.  But this word, caterpillars—­You see, Burr, Sir Timorous is like to be lured from us. [Aside.

Burr.  Is there no prevention? [Aside.

Fail.  One way there is.—­Sir Timorous, pray walk a turn, while Burr and I confer a little upon this matter.—­Look you, Burr, there is but one remedy in nature, I vow to gad; that is, for you to have a new Sir Timorous, exceeding this person in bounty to you.  Observe, then; in Sir Timorous’ place will I go, and, egad, I’ll marry my lady Constance; and then, from the bowels of friendship, bless thee with a thousand pounds, besides lodging and diet for thy life, boy.