DAV. (_to himself._) For I do believe now, if he has already heard that a marriage is prepared for him-- CHAR. (_apart._) Don’t you hear him? DAV. (_to himself._) He is seeking me distractedly all the city over. But where shall I look for him? Or in which direction now first to betake me-- CHAR. (_apart to PAMPHILUS._) Do you hesitate to accost him? DAV. (_to himself._) I have it. (_Moving on._) PAM. Davus, come here! Stop! DAV. Who’s the person that’s-- (_Turning round._) O Pamphilus, you are the very man I’m looking for. Well done, Charinus! both in the nick of time: I want you {both}. CHAR. Davus, I’m undone! DAV. Nay but, do hear this. PAM. I’m utterly ruined! DAV. I know what you are afraid of. CHAR. I’faith, my life indeed is really in danger. DAV. (_to CHARINUS._) And what you {are afraid of}, I know. PAM. My marriage-- DAV. As if I did not know it? PAM. This day-- DAV. Why keep dinning me {with it}, when I know it all? (_To PAMPHILUS._) This are you afraid of, lest you should marry her; and you (_to CHARINUS,_) lest you should not marry her. CHAR. You understand the matter. PAM. That’s the very thing. DAV. And that very thing is in no danger; trust me for that. PAM. I do entreat you, release wretched me as soon as possible from this apprehension. DAV. Well, then, I will release you; Chremes is not going to give you his daughter at present. PAM. How do you know? DAV. You shall know. Your father just now laid hold of me; he said that a wife was to be given you to-day, and many other things as well, which just now I haven’t time to relate. Hastening to you immediately, I ran on to the Forum that I might tell you these things. When I didn’t find you, I ascended there to a high place.[51] I looked around; you were nowhere. There by chance I saw Byrrhia, his {servant} (_pointing to CHARINUS_). I inquired of him; he said he hadn’t seen you. This puzzled me. I considered what I was to do. As I was returning in the mean time, a surmise from the circumstances themselves occurred to me: “How now,-- a very small amount of good cheer; he out of spirits; a marriage all of a sudden; {these things} don’t agree.” PAM. But to what purpose this? DAV. I forthwith {betook} myself to the house of Chremes. When I arrived there-- stillness before the door;[52] then I was pleased at that. CHAR. You say well. PAM. Proceed. DAV. I stopped {there}. In the mean time I saw no one going in, no one going out; no matron at the house,[53] no preparation, no bustle. I drew near; looked in-- PAM. I understand; a considerable indication. DAV. Do these things seem to accord with a wedding? PAM. I think not, Davus. DAV. Think, do you say? You don’t view it rightly; the thing is certain. Besides, coming away from there I saw the servant-boy of Chremes carrying some vegetables and little fishes, an obol’s worth,[54] for the old man’s dinner. CHAR. This day, Davus, have I been delivered by your means. DAV. And yet not at all.