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his friends. This was what Davus wanted. “ And
now, sir,” he said to his master, as soon as the young
man had disappeared, “I should recommend you to
go to your father, and say that you have no longer
any objection. If you don’t, he will find some way
of doing a mischief to Glycerium, — will get her
banished from Athens, it may be, for he has interest
with the government. Don’t be afraid of any-
thing happening. Whatever-your father may wish,
Chremes is quite resolved that you sha’n’t marry his
daughter.” Pamphilus was persuaded, and, meeting
his father soon afterwards, let him know that he was
ready to fulfil the engagement. As luck would have
it, he was overheard by Byrrhia, who had been’
strictly charged by his master, Charinus, to watch
the movements of the bridegroom. Byrrhia went
off to tell the news, Davus meanwhile making Simo
uncomfortable by representing that he wasn’t treat-
ing his son very well in the matter. “You keep
your purse too close, sir,” he said, “ for a father who
is going to marry his son. That’s what he feels,
Why, he can’t even ask his friends to the wedding.”
Simo now conceived the happy idea of turning the
feint into a reality. The marriage which he invented
to test his son’s feeling might actually take place.
Only he must persuade Chremes to withdraw his
veto. This he set about doing. The alliance had
been a cherished scheme with both of them for.
many years. The young man and the girl had been