Tristram.

Everything, sir.

F. You pack well, Tristram: put in these. (handing music.) Is there room for the music?

T. Anything, sir. Lie there, ye wrigglers. (begins to sing to himself.)

F. And this book.

T. Where is it you may be going, if you please, sir?

F. Never mind. You pack very well, Tristram. I shall miss you.

T. If the Countess has sent you to Milan, will you not want your best black velvet doublet?

F. I shall wear that on the journey.

T. Wear your best black velvet on the road! Well!—Stay we long away, sir?

F. Never mind. Now shut it up and give me the key.

T. I should like to know, sir, how long we stay away, and when we are to start.

F. Give me the key. Now, Tristram, I understand that the Countess has dismissed you from her household. That saves me explanation. Here’s your wages (puts money on the table) for the current quarter. You are no more my servant.

T. Good heavens! do you discharge me, sir? I beg, what have I done to offend you?

F. Never mind. The Countess has discharged you,—that’s enough. Tho’you’re a fool, Tristram, to say the truth, I have got accustomed to you, and shall be sorry To part with you. I have quite as many reasons For wishing you to stay, as you have given me To be dissatisfied. But so ’tis fated; And what God willeth, Tristram, needs must be, After the opinion of certain clerkës.

T. I am not to go with you to-day to Milan?

F. No, Tristram. Now we part.

T. Consider, sir, That Flora is discharged as well as me: Cannot you take us with you?

F. You and Flora With me!

T. What shall we do, sir? What shall we do?

F. I’ll tell you what. While you were in my service You served me ill, pried into my affairs, Took bribes to spy upon me:—I know,—attend. If you would win my favour, you must serve me Now you are discharged. You can assist me, and if You serve me better, I’ll use my interest, Tristram, To get you a decent place.

T. What is’t to do?

F. ’Tis this. An hour from hence I must be off. St. Nicholas will likely enough be here After his marriage settlement. Now, Tristram, He must not find me. Wait for him here:—do you see?— And if he comes, get him out of the way. And if Ricardo comes, tell him that I Am gone to seek him and shall soon return: Bid him await me here. If by your help I get off quickly, I will help you; if not, Tristram, I’ll cut your throat from ear to ear. [Exit.

T. Heavens! what has possessed my master, and what’s to happen to me? O wala, wala! It all comes of love: or rather, I should say, it all came of my hat. I would it had been consumed entirely. This hole in the crown is not to be mended ... and all round ’tis like tinder, it breaks with a touch. Of what contemptible material are these hats made! It might have been sewn up else. Now ’tis a picture of me. Yes, the hat is me, as it were; the hole in the crown is the ruin of my fortunes wrought upon me by the fiery lamp, which is my love for Flora. There’s a parable. Could I write a poem on this, it might appease the Countess. Deary me! What are Flora and I to do? Money being the root of all evil, I must look first to that. All depends on that. Let me see what I can muster. There’s my pay; there’s the Countess’present, and my little savings. (turns out his purse and pockets on to the table.) I’ll put it all in heaps of ten. No, heaps of five: better in fives, there’ll be more heaps; and there’s comfort in the number of heaps. Tho’less lordly, ’twill be more showy. Five, ten, fifteen, twenty. (knocking at door.) Come in,—twenty-five.

Enter St. Nicholas.