_Dem._ No, no; it shall not be, it cannot be! I won't permit this marriage to continue for a single day longer. Now, I want to see that other fellow, or at least find out where he lives. _Ge._ Do you mean Phormio? _Dem._ I mean that woman's guardian. _Ge._ I'll go get him for you. _Dem._ Where is Antipho now? _Ge._ O, he's out somewhere. _Dem._ Phædria, you go hunt him up and bring him to me. _Phæd._ Yes, sir; I'll go find him right away. _Ge._ [_leering at Phædria as the latter passes him_]. You mean you'll go to Pamphila [_Phædria's sweetheart_]. Demipho, left alone, announces that he will get some friends together to advise him in the business, and prepare him for his interview with Phormio. The act ends with the prospect pretty dark for Antipho, and with no plan of action formed in his behalf. We are now introduced, at the opening of the second act, to the actor of the title rôle, the keen-witted, reckless parasite, Phormio. He is accompanied upon the stage by Geta, who is telling him the situation. Geta beseeches Phormio to come to their aid, since he is, after all, entirely responsible for the trouble. Phormio remains buried in thought awhile, and then announces that he has his plans formed, and is ready to meet the old man. [_Enter Demipho and three friends from the other side of the stage. Demipho is talking to his friends._] _Dem._ Did you ever hear of any one suffering more outrageous treatment than I have? I beg you to help me. _Ge._ [_apart to Phormio_]. My, but he's mad! _Phor._ You just watch me now; I'll stir him up. [_Speaking in a loud enough tone to be overheard by Demipho_]. By all the powers! Does Demipho say that Phanium isn't related to him? Does Demipho say so? _Ge._ Yes, he does. Demipho is caught by this bait, as Phormio had intended, and says to his friends in an undertone: I believe this is the very fellow I was seeking. Let's go a little nearer. Phormio continues in a loud voice to berate Demipho for his neglect of the supposed relative, while Geta noisily takes his master's part. Demipho now interrupts this sham quarrel, and after snubbing Geta, he turns with mock politeness to Phormio. _Dem._ Young man, I beg your pardon, but will you be kind enough to tell me who that friend of yours was that you are talking about, and how he said I was related to him? _Phor._ O, you ask as if you didn't know. _Dem._ As if I didn't know? _Phor._ Yes. _Dem._ And I say that I _don't_ know. Now do you, who say that I do, refresh my memory. _Phor._ Didn't you know your own cousin? _Dem._ O, you make me tired. Tell me his name. _Phor._ The name? Why, certainly. But now the name by which he had heard Phanium speak of her father has slipped from his mind, and he is forced to awkward silence. Demipho is quick to see his embarrassment: