CHREM. (_turning round._) Who’s that? What, Pythias; dear me, how much more charming you now seem to me than a short time since! PYTH. Troth now, you are much more merry, that’s certain. CHREM. Upon my faith, it is a true saying, that “Venus grows cold without Ceres and Bacchus.” But has Thais got here long before me? PYTH. Has she already come away from the Captain’s? CHREM. A long time ago; an age since. There has been a most violent quarrel between them. PYTH. Did she say nothing about you following her? CHREM. Nothing at all; only, on going away, she gave me a nod. PYTH. Well now, wasn’t that enough? CHREM. Why, I didn’t know that she meant that, until the Captain gave me an explanation, because I was dull of comprehension; for he bundled me out of the house. But look, here she is; I wonder how it was I got here before her. SCENE VII. _Enter THAIS._ THAIS. (_to herself._) I really do believe that he’ll be here presently, to force her away from me. Let him come; but if he touches her with a single finger, that instant his eyes shall be torn out. I can put up with his impertinences and his high-sounding words, as long as they remain words: but if they are turned into realities, he shall get a drubbing. CHREM. Thais, I’ve been here some time. THAIS. O my {dear} Chremes, you are the very person I was wanting. Are you aware that this quarrel took place on your account, and that the whole of this affair, in fact, bore reference to yourself? CHREM. To me? How so, pray? THAIS. Because, while I’ve been doing my best to recover and restore your sister to you, this and a great deal more like it I’ve had to put up with. CHREM. Where is she? THAIS. At home, at my house. CHREM. (_starting._) Hah! THAIS. What’s the matter? She has been brought up in a manner worthy of yourself and of her. CHREM. What is it you say? THAIS. That which is the fact. Her I present to you, nor do I ask of you any return for her. CHREM. Thanks are both felt and shall be returned in such way, Thais, as you deserve. THAIS. But still, take care, Chremes, that you don’t lose her, before you receive her from me; for it is she, whom the Captain is now coming to take away from me by force. Do you go, Pythias, and bring out of the house the casket with the tokens.[93] CHREM. (_looking down the side Scene._) Don’t you see him, Thais? PYTH. (_to THAIS._) Where is it put? THAIS. In the clothes’ chest. Tiresome {creature}, why do you delay? (_PYTHIAS goes into the house._) CHREM. What a large body of troops the Captain is bringing with him against you. Bless me! THAIS. Prithee, are you frightened, my {dear} sir? CHREM. Get out with you. What, I frightened? There’s not a man alive less so. THAIS. Then now is the time to prove it. CHREM. Why, I wonder what sort of a man you take me to be. THAIS. Nay, and consider this too; the person that you have to deal with is a foreigner;[94] of less influence than you, less known, and one that has fewer friends here.