You kill me outright; much more safely would it have been kept in private hands. But haven’t you brought any of the gold home here?CHRYSALUS O yes; but how much he has brought, I don’t know.NICOBULUS How’s that?—not know? CHRYSALUS Because Mnesilochus went privately by night to Theotimus; and didn’t wish to entrust it to me, nor to any one in the ship. For that reason I don’t know how much he has brought, but he hasn’t brought very much.NICOBULUS Do you think it was even a half?CHRYSALUS By my troth, I know not; but I don’t think it.NICOBULUS Does he bring a third part?CHRYSALUS Troth, I think not; but I do not know the truth. Indeed, I know nothing at all about the gold, except that I do know nothing about it. Now, you yourself must take a voyage there on board ship, to carry home this gold from Theotimus; and, hearkye—(Takes him by the arm.)NICOBULUS What do you want? CHRYSALUS Take care and remember to carry your son’s ring.NICOBULUS What need is there of the ring?CHRYSALUS Because that is the token agreed on with Theotimus, that the person who brings it to him, to him he is to give up the gold.NICOBULUS I’ll remember it, and you advise me well. But is this Theotimus rich?CHRYSALUS What, do you ask that? Why, hasn’t he the soles fastened to his shoes with gold?NICOBULUS Why does he thus despise it?CHRYSALUS He has such immense riches; he doesn’t know what to do with his gold.NICOBULUS I wish he’d give it me.But in whose presence was this gold delivered to Theotimus?CHRYSALUS In presence of the people; there’s not a person in Ephesus but what knows it.NICOBULUS My son at least did wisely there, in entrusting that gold to a rich man to keep. From him it may be recovered even at a moment’s notice.CHRYSALUS Aye, and look here, he’ll never keep you waiting even thus much (shows his finger-nail) from receiving it on the very day you arrive there.NICOBULUS I thought that I had escaped a seafaring life, and that, at length, an old man of my years, I shouldn’t be sailing about. But now I find that I’m not allowed to have the choice whether I would or no; ’tis my fine host Archidemides has done me this. Where, then, is my son, Mnesilochus, at present?CHRYSALUS He has gone to the market-place to pay his respects to the Deities and his friends.NICOBULUS Then I’ll go hence to meet him as soon as I can.(Exit NICOBULUS.)CHRYSALUS He’s right well loaded, and carries more than his proper burden.