Enter Bardolph, running. BARDOLPH. O, my lord, my lord, the sheriff with a most monstrous watch is at the door. FALSTAFF. Out, ye rogue! Play out the play. I have much to say in the behalf of that Falstaff. Enter the Hostess, hastily. HOSTESS. O Jesu, my lord, my lord— PRINCE. Heigh, heigh, the devil rides upon a fiddlestick. What’s the matter? HOSTESS. The sheriff and all the watch are at the door. They are come to search the house. Shall I let them in? FALSTAFF. Dost thou hear, Hal? Never call a true piece of gold a counterfeit: thou art essentially made without seeming so. PRINCE. And thou a natural coward without instinct. FALSTAFF. I deny your major. If you will deny the sheriff, so; if not, let him enter. If I become not a cart as well as another man, a plague on my bringing up! I hope I shall as soon be strangled with a halter as another. PRINCE. Go hide thee behind the arras. The rest walk up above. Now, my masters, for a true face and good conscience. FALSTAFF. Both which I have had, but their date is out, and therefore I’ll hide me. PRINCE. Call in the sheriff. [_Exeunt all but the Prince and Peto._] Enter Sheriff and the Carrier. Now, master sheriff, what is your will with me? SHERIFF. First, pardon me, my lord. A hue and cry Hath followed certain men unto this house. PRINCE. What men? SHERIFF. One of them is well known, my gracious lord, A gross fat man. CARRIER. As fat as butter. PRINCE. The man I do assure you is not here, For I myself at this time have employ’d him. And, sheriff, I will engage my word to thee, That I will by tomorrow dinner-time, Send him to answer thee, or any man, For anything he shall be charged withal. And so let me entreat you leave the house. SHERIFF. I will, my lord. There are two gentlemen Have in this robbery lost three hundred marks. PRINCE. It may be so. If he have robb’d these men, He shall be answerable; and so, farewell. SHERIFF. Good night, my noble lord. PRINCE. I think it is good morrow, is it not? SHERIFF. Indeed, my lord, I think it be two o’clock. [_Exit Sheriff with the Carrier._] PRINCE. This oily rascal is known as well as Paul’s. Go, call him forth. PETO. Falstaff!—Fast asleep behind the arras, and snorting like a horse. PRINCE. Hark, how hard he fetches breath. Search his pockets. [_He searcheth his pocket, and findeth certain papers._] What hast thou found? PETO. Nothing but papers, my lord. PRINCE. Let’s see what they be. Read them. PETO. [_reads_] Item, a capon, . . . . . . . . . . . 2s. 2d. Item, sauce, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4d. Item, sack, two gallons, . . . 5s. 8d. Item, anchovies and sack after supper, 2s. 6d. Item, bread, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ob.