HUNT (_to_ JEAN). I can’t waste time on you, my girl. It’s now or never. Will you turn king’s evidence? JEAN. I think ye’ll have made a mistake, like. HUNT. Well, I’m . . . ! (_Separating them_.) [No, not yet; don’t push me.] George’s turn now. (_To_ GEORGE.) George, I’ve a warrant in my pocket. SMITH. As per usual, Jerry? HUNT. Now I want king’s evidence. SMITH. Ah! so you came a cropper with _her_, Jerry. Pride had a fall. HUNT. A free pardon and fifty shiners down. SMITH. A free pardon, Jerry? HUNT. Don’t I tell you so? SMITH. And fifty down? fifty? HUNT. On the nail. SMITH. So you came a cropper with her, and then you tried it on with me? HUNT. I suppose you mean you’re a born idiot? SMITH. What I mean is, Jerry, that you’ve broke my heart. I used to look up to you like a party might to Julius Cæsar. One more of boyhood’s dreams gone pop. (_Enter_ MOORE, _L._) HUNT (_to both_). Come, then, I’ll take the pair, and be damned to you. Free pardon to both, fifty down and the Deacon out of the way. I don’t care for you commoners, it’s the Deacon I want. JEAN (_looking off stolidly_). I think the kirks are scalin’. There seems to be mair people in the streets. HUNT. O that’s the way, is it? Do you know that I can hang you, my woman, and your fancy man a well? JEAN. I daur say ye would like fine, Mr. Hunt; and here’s my service to you. (_Going_.) HUNT. George, don’t you be a tomfool, anyway. Think of the blowen here, and have brains for two. SMITH (_going_). Ah, Jerry, if you knew anything, how different you would talk! (_They go together_, _R._) SCENE III HUNT, MOORE HUNT. Half a tick, Badger. You’re a man of parts, you are; you’re solid, you’re a true-born Englishman; you ain’t a Jerry-go-Nimble like him. Do you know what your pal the Deacon’s worth to you? Fifty golden Georges and a free pardon. No questions asked, and no receipts demanded. What do you say? Is it a deal? MOORE (_as to himself_). Muck. (_He goes out_, _R._) SCENE IV HUNT, _to whom_ AINSLIE HUNT (_looking after them ruefully_). And these were the very parties I was looking for! [Ah, Jerry, Jerry, if they knew this at the office!] Well, the market price of that ’ere two hundred is a trifle on the decline and fall. (_Looking L._) Hullo! (_Slapping his thigh_). Send me victorious! It’s king’s evidence on two legs. (_Advancing with great cordiality to meet_ AINSLIE, _who enters L._) And so your name’s Andrew Ainslie, is it? As I was saying, you’re the very party I was looking for. Ain’t it strange, now, that I should have dropped across you comfortable and promiscuous like this? AINSLIE. I dinna ken wha ye are, an’ I’m ill for my bed.