_Gom._ She's a little indisposed at present, and it will not be convenient to disturb her. [DOMINICK _offers to go by him, but t'other stands before him._ _Dom._ Indisposed, say you? O, it is upon those occasions that a confessor is most necessary; I think, it was my good angel that sent me hither so opportunely. _Gom._ Ay, whose good angels sent you hither, that you best know, father. _Dom._ A word or two of devotion will do her no harm, I'm sure. _Gom._ A little sleep will do her more good, I'm sure: You know, she disburthened her conscience but this morning to you. _Dom._ But, if she be ill this afternoon, she may have new occasion to confess. _Gom._ Indeed, as you order matters with the colonel, she may have occasion of confessing herself every hour. _Dom._ Pray, how long has she been sick? _Gom._ Lord, you will force a man to speak;--why, ever since your last defeat. _Dom._ This can be but some slight indisposition; it will not last, and I may see her. _Gom._ How, not last! I say, it will last, and it shall last; she shall be sick these seven or eight days, and perhaps longer, as I see occasion. What? I know the mind of her sickness a little better than you do. _Dom._ I find, then, I must bring a doctor. _Gom._ And he'll bring an apothecary, with a chargeable long bill of _ana's_: those of my family have the grace to die cheaper. In a word, Sir Dominick, we understand one another's business here: I am resolved to stand like the Swiss of my own family, to defend the entrance; you may mumble over your _pater nosters_, if you please, and try if you can make my doors fly open, and batter down my walls with bell, book, and candle; but I am not of opinion, that you are holy enough to commit miracles. _Dom._ Men of my order are not to be treated after this manner. _Gom._ I would treat the pope and all his cardinals in the same manner, if they offered to see my wife, without my leave. _Dom._ I excommunicate thee from the church, if thou dost not open; there's promulgation coming out. _Gom._ And I excommunicate you from my wife, if you go to that: there's promulgation for promulgation, and bull for bull; and so I leave you to recreate yourself with the end of an old song-- _And sorrow came to the old friar._ [_Exit._ LORENZO _comes to him._ _Lor._ I will not ask you your success; for I overheard part of it, and saw the conclusion. I find we are now put upon our last trump; the fox is earthed, but I shall send my two terriers in after him. _Sold._ I warrant you, colonel, we'll unkennel him. _Lor._ And make what haste you can, to bring out the lady.--What say you, father? Burglary is but a venial sin among soldiers. _Dom._ I shall absolve them, because he is an enemy of the church.--There is a proverb, I confess, which says, that dead men tell no tales; but let your soldiers apply it at their own perils.