THEU. (_to the_ ATTENDANTS). More away from here. TRA. Don't you touch the house. Touch you the ground [1] as well. (_Exeunt the_ ATTENDANTS. THEU. I' faith, prithee, do speak out now. TRA. Because it is now seven months that not a person has set foot within this house, _and_ since we once for all left it. THEU. Tell me, why so? TRA. Just look around, whether there's any person to overhear our discourse. THEU. (_looking around_). All's quite safe. TRA. Look around once more. THEU. (_looking around_). There's nobody; now then, speak out. TRA. (_in a loud whisper_). The house has been guilty of a capital offence [2]. THEU. I don't understand _you_. TRA. A crime, tell you, has been committed _there_, a long while ago, one of olden time and ancient date. THEU. Of ancient date? TRA. 'Tis but recently, in fact, that we've discovered this deed. THEU. What is this crime, or who committed it? Tell me. TRA. A host slew his guest, seized with his hand: he, I fancy, who sold you the house. THEU. Slew _him_? TRA. And robbed this guest of his gold, and buried this guest there in the house, on the spot. THEU. For what reason do you suspect that this took place? TRA. I'll tell _you_; listen. _One day_, when your son had dined away from home, after he returned home from dining; we all went to bed, _and_ fell asleep. By accident, I had forgotten to put out my lamp; and he, all of a sudden, called out aloud-- THEU. What person? My son? TRA. Hist! hold your peace: just listen. He said that a dead man came to him in his sleep-- THEU. In his dreams, then, you mean? TRA. Just so. But only listen. He said that he had met with his death by these means-- THEU. _What_, in his sleep? TRA. It would have been surprising if he had told him awake, who had been murdered sixty years ago. On some occasions you are absurdly simple. But look what he said: "I am the guest of Diapontius, from beyond the seas; here do I dwell; this has been assigned me as my abode; for Oreus would not receive me in Acheron, because prematurely I lost my life. Through confiding was I deceived: my entertainer slew me here, and that villain secretly laid me in the ground without funereal rites, in this house, on the spot, for the sake of gold. Now do you depart from here; this house is accursed, _this_ dwelling is defiled." The wonders that here take place, hardly in a year could I recount them. Hush, hush! (_He starts._) THEU. Troth now, what has happened, prithee? TRA. The door made a noise. Was it he that was knocking? THEU. (_turning pale_). I have not _one_ drop of blood! Dead men are come to fetch me to Acheron, while alive! TRA. (_aside_). I'm undone! those people there will mar my plot. (_A noise is heard from within._) How much I dread, lest he should catch me in the fact. THEU. What are you talking about to yourself? (_Goes near the door._) TRA. Do get away from the door. By heavens, fly, I do beseech you. THEU. Fly where? Fly yourself, as well.