272 PHILEMON.

Theo. “Vf it’s safe, my don’t you pay for it
yourselves ?”

Tra. “The fact is, your son bought a house.”

Theo. “ A house?”

Tra. “Yes, a house.”

_ Theo. “Good, good! He is a chip of the old
block; he has an eye to business. You say a house?”

Tra. “Yes, a house; .but what kind of a house,
do you think?”

Theo. “ How can I tell?”

Tra. “Where?”

Theo. “What do you mean?”

Tra. “Don’t ask me.”

Theo. “Why?”

Tra. “T tell you it’s a perfect picture.”

Theo. “Well done; but what does he give for it?”

Tra. “ Four hundred and eighty pounds, and has
paid the hundred by way of deposit. You see, when
he found out how it was with the other house, he
bought a new one for himself.”

Theopropides was so pleased with his son’s smart-
ness that he made no difficulty about promising the
money-lender that he would pay the debt. “And
now,” he said, turning to Tranio, “tell me where
the house is.”’ The question perplexed Tranio. “A
lie,” he said to himself, “is best served up hot, I have
heard. I must say the first thing that comes upper-
most.” (Zo Theopropides) “It was our next door
neighbour’s house that he bought.”