_Ran._ I have better news for you, to my thinking. _Vin._ What is't? _Ran._ Not that I have been in Christina's lodging this morning; but that she'll be presently here in your lodging with me. _Val._ How! [_Aside._ _Vin. [Retiring, and speaking softly to_ VALENTINE.] You see now, his report was a jest, a mere jest.--[_To_ RANGER.] Well, must my lodging be your vaulting-school[47] still? thou hast appointed a wench to come hither, I find. _Ran._ A wench! you seemed to have more reverence for Christina last night. _Vin._ Now you talk of Christina, prithee tell me what was the meaning of thy last night's romance of Christina? _Ran._ You shall know the meaning of all when Christina comes: she'll be here presently. _Vin._ Who will? Christina? _Ran._ Yes, Christina. _Vin._ Ha! ha! ha! _Ran._ Incredulous envy! thou art as envious as an impotent lecher at a wedding. _Vin._ Thou art either mad, or as vain as a Frenchman newly returned home from a campaign, or obliging England. _Ran._ Thou art as envious as a rival; but if thou art mine, there's that will make you desist; [_gives him a letter_] and if you are not my rival, entrusting you with such a secret will, I know, oblige you to keep it, and assist me against all other interests. _Vin._ Do you think I take your secret as an obligation? don't I know, lovers, travellers, and poets, will give money to be heard? But what's the paper? a lampoon upon Christina, hatched last night betwixt squire Dapperwit and you, because her maid used you scurvily? _Ran._ No, 'tis only a letter from her, to show my company was not so disgustful to her last night, but that she desires it again to-day. _Val._ A letter from her! [_Aside._ _Vin._ A letter from Christina! [_Reads._]--Ha! ha! ha! _Ran._ Nay, 'tis pleasant. _Vin._ You mistake, I laugh at you, not the letter. _Ran._ I am like the winning gamester, so pleased with my luck, I will not quarrel with any who calls me a fool for't. _Vin._ Is this the style of a woman of honour? _Ran._ It may be, for ought you know; I'm sure 'tis well if your female correspondents can read. _Vin._ I must confess I have none of the little letters, half name or title, like your Spanish Epistles Dedicatory; but that a man so frequent in honourable intrigues as you are, should not know the summons of an impudent common woman, from that of a person of honour! _Ran._ Christina is so much a person of honour she'll own what she has writ when she comes. _Vin._ But will she come hither indeed? _Ran._ Immediately. You'll excuse my liberty with you; I could not conceal such a happiness from such a friend as you, lest you should have taken it unkindly. _Vin._ Faith, you have obliged me indeed; for you and others would often have made me believe your honourable intrigues, but never did me the honour to convince me of 'em before. _Ran._ You are merry, I find, yet. _Vin._ When you are happy I cannot be otherwise.