Gom. O, colonel are you there?—­and you, friar? nay, then I find how the world goes.

Lor. Cheer up, man, thou art out of jeopardy; I heard thee crying out just now, and came running in full speed, with the wings of an eagle, and the feet of a tiger, to thy rescue.

Gom. Ay, you are always at hand to do me a courtesy, with your eagle’s feet, and your tiger’s wings.—­And what were you here for, friar?

Dom. To interpose my spiritual authority in your behalf.

Gom. And why did you shriek out, gentlewoman?

Elv. ’Twas for joy at your return.

Gom. And that casket under your arm, for what end and purpose?

Elv. Only to preserve it from the thieves.

Gom. And you came running out of doors—­

Elv. Only to meet you, sweet husband.

Gom. A fine evidence summed up among you; thank you heartily, you are all my friends.  The colonel was walking by accidentally, and hearing my voice, came in to save me; the friar, who was hobbling the same way too, accidentally again, and not knowing of the colonel, I warrant you, he comes in to pray for me; and my faithful wife runs out of doors to meet me, with all my jewels under her arm, and shrieks out for joy at my return.  But if my father-in-law had not met your soldiers, colonel, and delivered me in the nick, I should neither have found a friend nor a friar here, and might have shrieked out for joy myself, for the loss of my jewels and my wife.

Dom. Art thou an infidel?  Wilt thou not believe us?

Gom. Such churchmen as you would make any man an infidel.—­Get you into your kennel, gentlewoman; I shall thank you within doors for your safe custody of my jewels and your own.
[He thrusts his wife off the stage.
As for you, colonel Huffcap, we shall try before a civil magistrate, who’s the greater plotter of us two, I against the state, or you against the petticoat.

Lor. Nay, if you will complain, you shall for something.
          
                                               [Beats him.

Gom. Murder, murder!  I give up the ghost!  I am destroyed! help, murder, murder!

Dom. Away, colonel; let us fly for our lives:  the neighbours are coming out with forks, and fire-shovels, and spits, and other domestic weapons; the militia of a whole alley is raised against us.

Lor. This is but the interest of my debt, master usurer; the principal shall be paid you at our next meeting.

Dom. Ah, if your soldiers had but dispatched him, his tongue had been laid asleep, colonel; but this comes of not following good counsel; ah—­ [Exeunt LOR. and Friar severally.