MARL. Yes, yes; it's safe enough. I have taken care of it. But how could you think the seat of a post-coach, at an inn-door, a place of safety? Ah! numb-skull! I have taken better precautions for you than you did for yourself.—I have— HAST. What? MARL. I have sent it to the landlady, to keep for you. HAST. To the landlady! MARL. The landlady. HAST. You did! MARL. I did. She's to be answerable for its forthcoming, you know. HAST. Yes, she'll bring it forth, with a witness. MARL. Wasn't I right? I believe you'll allow that I acted prudently upon this occasion. HAST. (_Aside._) He must not see my uneasiness. _Marl._ You seem a little disconcerted though, methinks. Sure nothing has happened. HAST. No, nothing. Never was in better spirits in all my life. And so you left it with the landlady, who, no doubt, very readily undertook the charge? MARL. Rather too readily. For she not only kept the casket; but, through her great precaution, was going to keep the messenger too. Ha! ha! ha! HAST. He! he! he! They are safe, however. MARL. As a guinea in a miser'spurse. HAST. (_Aside._) So now all hopes of fortune are at an end, and we must set off without it. (_To him._ ) Well, Charles, I'll leave you to your meditations on the pretty bar-maid; and, he! he! he! may you be as successful for yourself as you have been for me. _Exit._ MARL. Thank ye, George! I ask no more; ha! ha! ha! _Enter_ HARDCASTLE. HARD. I no longer know my own house. It's turned all topsy-turvy. His servants have got drunk already. I'll bear it no longer; and yet, from my respect for his father, I'll be calm. (_To him._ ) Mr. Marlow, your servant. I'm your very humble servant. _Bowing low._ MARL. Sir, your humble servant. (_Aside._) What's to be the wonder now? HARD. I believe, sir, you must be sensible, sir, that no man alive ought to be more welcome than your father's son, sir. I hope you think so. MARL. I do, from my soul, sir. I don't want much entreaty. I generally make my father's son welcome wherever he goes. HARD. I believe you do, from my soul, sir. But though I say nothing to your own conduct, that of your servants is insufferable. Their manner of drinking is setting a very bad example in this house, I assure you. [Illustration: HARDCASTLE.—"_I'm your very humble servant._"—_p._ 358. ] MARL. I protest, my very good sir, that's no fault of mine. If they don't drink as they ought, _they_ are to blame. I ordered them not to spare the cellar: I did, I assure you. (_To the side scene._) Here, let one of my servants come up. (_To him._) My positive directions were, that, as I did not drink myself, they should make up for my deficiencies below. HARD. Then, they had your orders for what they do! I'm satisfied. MARL. They had, I assure you. You shall hear from one of themselves. _Enter_ SERVANT, _drunk_.