_T._ Ah! ah! Oh wala! wala! (_Puts his finger to his head._) _Fl._ What is it? Are you giddy? _T._ No, no. My constitution—my system. _Fl._ What? 460 _T._ I’m going mad like the rest of them. I’ve caught it too. _Fl._ Don’t talk so; to frighten me, Tristram, like that. What do you mean? _T._ Well, we shall make a better pair than two I know. _Fl._ I never promised. And what would my lady say? And—oh! I forgot: she sent me to fetch you. _T._ My lady?—me? _Fl._ Yes, you. 470 _T._ She sent for me? _Fl._ No sooner was she come in the house, than as she sat looking on the silks, one of her fits took her, and I thought she would faint: when suddenly she got up, and bade me go out and seek for you. See, here she comes. _T._ What can she need with me? (_Aside._) If she has got wind of me and Flora, it’s all up. _Re-enter Diana._ _D._ (_to Fl._). I see you have found him, Flora. _Fl._ We were coming, my lady, as fast as we could. _D._ Leave us alone. [_Exit Flora._ 481 Good Tristram; will you serve me? _T._ Certainly, my lady. My lady has only to command. _D._ But in a matter where your duty might seem opposed to my interest. _T._ ’Tis impossible, my lady, that my duties could be opposed to my lady’s. _D._ I think, Tristram, that you know a secret which concerns me. _T._ I assure your ladyship, upon my oath.... _D._ Stay now. Take this purse.... _T._ I thank your ladyship. _D._ To convince you of my goodwill. Now I have a suspicion: and whether or no you help me to come at the truth, I shall learn it. I will not have secrets kept from me in my court. _T._ Certainly not, my lady. But I pray your ladyship to speak plainly, for I am a simple man; and if I am to assist your ladyship, I must understand your ladyship. 502 _D._ You are a very sensible servant, Tristram. Tell me then, do you not know of some one in the court, who carries on a love-affair behind my back? _T._ (_aside_). It’s me.—No, my lady: I do not. It is impossible that any one should do such a thing. _D._ Is not your master in love? _T._ Oh!... my master? Certainly; not a doubt of it. _D._ So I thought. Now you must tell me, good Tristram, with whom he is in love. _T._ If that’s the question, my lady, you may take back the purse again. Take it; I thought it was not like my luck. _D._ You will not tell? _T._ I cannot tell what I do not know, my lady. _D._ You do not know? _T._ I have not an inclination. 520 _D._ Stay yet. You shall keep the purse if you will do your best to discover who she is. _T._ Your ladyship is very fair (_pocketing_), and I thank your ladyship for restoring my confidence. _D._ Then tell me first. You say you know that your master is in love. _T._ Certainly; as much or more than all the court. _D._ All the court!