LEWIS BABOON.--I know of no particular mark of veracity amongst us tradesmen but interest; and it is manifestly mine not to deceive you at this time. You may safely trust me, I can assure you. JOHN BULL.--The trust I give is, in short, this: I must have something in hand before I make the bargain, and the rest before it is concluded. LEWIS BABOON.--To show you I deal fairly, name your something. JOHN BULL.--I need not tell thee, old boy; thou canst guess. LEWIS BABOON.--Ecclesdown Castle,* I'll warrant you, because it has been formerly in your family. Say no more; you shall have it. * Dunkirk. JOHN BULL.--I shall have it to my own self? LEWIS BABOON.--To thine own self. JOHN BULL.--Every wall, gate, room, and inch of Ecclesdown Castle, you say? LEWIS BABOON.--Just so. JOHN BULL.--Every single stone of Ecclesdown Castle, to my own self, speedily? LEWIS BABOON.--When you please; what needs more words? JOHN BULL.--But tell me, old boy, hast thou laid aside all thy equivocals and mentals in this case? LEWIS BABOON.--There's nothing like matter of fact; seeing is believing. JOHN BULL.--Now thou talkest to the purpose; let us shake hands, old boy. Let me ask thee one question more; what hast thou to do to meddle with the affairs of my family? to dispose of my estate, old boy? LEWIS BABOON.--Just as much as you have to do with the affairs of Lord Strutt. JOHN BULL.--Ay, but my trade, my very being was concerned in that. LEWIS BABOON.--And my interest was concerned in the other. But let us drop both our pretences; for I believe it is a moot point, whether I am more likely to make a Master Bull, or you a Lord Strutt. JOHN BULL.--Agreed, old boy; but then I must have security that I shall carry my broadcloth to market, old boy. LEWIS BABOON.--That you shall: Ecclesdown Castle! Ecclesdown! Remember that. Why wouldst thou not take it when it was offered thee some years ago? JOHN BULL.--I would not take it, because they told me thou wouldst not give it me. LEWIS BABOON.--How could Monsieur Bull be so grossly abused by downright nonsense? they that advised you to refuse, must have believed I intended to give, else why would they not make the experiment? But I can tell you more of that matter than perhaps you know at present. JOHN BULL.--But what say'st thou as to the Esquire, Nic. Frog, and the rest of the tradesmen? I must take care of them. LEWIS BABOON.--Thou hast but small obligations to Nic. to my certain knowledge: he has not used me like a gentleman. JOHN BULL.--Nic. indeed is not very nice in your punctilios of ceremony; he is clownish, as a man may say: belching and calling of names have been allowed him time out of mind, by prescription: but, however, we are engaged in one common cause, and I must look after him. LEWIS BABOON.--All matters that relate to him, and the rest of the plaintiff's in this lawsuit, I will refer to your justice.