THE GHOST. 277

tions sufficed to show the-old man that the whole
story was a fiction from beginning to end. “Well,”
said he to his neighbour, “lend me two stout slaves
and a whip or two; that is all you can do for me,
for I have been most abominably cheated.”

Tranio had succeeded in clearing his master’s
house of its inconvenient inmates, and. was medi-
tating what was best to be done, when he saw his
master approach. A brief conversation followed,
and Tranio soon understood that his game was up.
The slaves were not to be seen, for Theopropides
had told them to keep in the background till he
should call them, but the culprit was perfectly well
aware that a very severe punishment awaited him.
His only resource was to flee for protection to the
family altar. This he at once did, and no persua-
sions could induce him to leave it.

Affairs were in this situation when Callidamates,
who had by this time slept off his drunkenness,
appeared upon the scene. Tranio, impudent to the
last, bantered his master on having been cheated so
grossly. “A man with white hair ought,” he said,
“to have known better. If you have a friend among
the comedians, you could not do better than tell him
the story of how a slave has taken you in.” Calli-
damates here intervened. “You must know that I
am your son’s closest friend. After what has hap-
pened he is ashamed to show himself. Pray pardon
his youthful folly. Young men will do such things,