Hm-m! trying to smooth me down! To be sure I have a deputy, and there’s not a slave in the master’s house that is a more valuable man than that deputy, either. But how about the wine I sold to Exaerambus the vintner yesterday--has he settled with Stichus for it yet? _Lib._ Fecisse satis opinor, nam vidi huc ipsum adducere trapezitam Exaerambum. I reckon he has, sir: for I saw Exaerambus bringing the banker here himself. _Leon._ Sic dedero. prius quae credidi vix anno post exegi; nunc satagit: adducit domum etiam ultro et scribit nummos. Dromo mercedem rettulit? 440 That’s the style for me! Last time I trusted him I barely got the money out of him a year afterwards. Now he pays his bills: even brings his banker over to the house besides, and writes his cheque. Has Dromo brought home his wages? _Lib._ Dimidio minus opinor. Only half, I think. _Leon._ Quid relicuom? And the rest? _Lib._ Aibat reddere quom extemplo redditum esset; nam retineri, ut quod sit sibi operis locatum efficeret. He said he’d give it to you as soon as it was given to him; claimed it was kept back so that he’d finish up a job that was placed with him. _Leon._ Scyphos quos utendos dedi Philodamo, rettulitne? Those cups that I lent Philodamus--has he returned ’em? _Lib._ Non etiam. Not yet. _Leon._ Hem non? si velis, da,[11] commoda homini amico. Hey? No? (_sourly_) Give things away, if you like,--give ’em to a friend on loan. _Merc._ _Trader_ Perii hercle, iam his me abegerit suo odio. (_half aside, wearily_) Oh, the devil! The fellow will be driving me off before long with his confounded talk. _Lib._ Heus iam satis tu. audin quae loquitur? (_aside to Leonida_) Hi, you! That’s enough now! D’ye hear what he says? _Leon._ Audio et quiesco. (_aside to Libanus_) I hear; I’ll calm down. _Merc._ _Trader_ Tandem, opinor, conticuit. nunc adeam optimum est, prius quam incipit tinnire. quam mox mi operam das? (_aside_) Silent at last, I do believe. Best approach him now before he begins to rattle on again. (_aloud to Leonida_) How soon can you give me your attention? _Leon._ Ehem, optume. quam dudum tu advenisti? non hercle te provideram--quaeso ne vitio vortas-- 450 ita iracundia obstitit oculis. (_looking at him and affecting surprise_) Aha! Splendid! How long have you been here? Well, well, I hadn’t noticed you before! I trust you won’t feel offended. I was so angry that it affected my eyesight. _Merc._ _Trader_ Non mirum factum est. sed si domi est, Demaenetum volebam. Nothing strange in that. But I wished to see Demaenetus, if he is at home. _Leon._