But still he looks for it in vain.LAMPADISCUS But, by my faith, good woman, in no matter does this certain man give his pains for nothing.PHANOSTRATA Lend me your conversation: it will now be for your own advantage. We confess that we have got the casket.HALISCA Then may Salvation preserve you; where is it now?PHANOSTRATA(producing the casket.)See, here it is, safe. But I wish to discourse with you upon a matter of importance to myself; I take you as a sharer with me in my own preservation.HALISCA What matter is this, or who are you?PHANOSTRATA I am the mother of her who had these things with her, when exposed.HALISCA Do you live here then?(Pointing to the house.)PHANOSTRATA You are a diviner. But, prithee, good woman, do lay aside all mystification, and to the point; tell me at once, whence did you get these trinkets?HALISCA This daughter of my mistress had them.LAMPADISCUS You tell a falsehood; for my own mistress’s daughter had them, not yours.PHANOSTRATA Don’t interrupt. LAMPADISCUS I’ll be mum.PHANOSTRATA Good woman, go on speaking. Where is she who had them?HALISCA(pointing to the house of ALCESIMARCHUS.) Here, next door. PHANOSTRATA By the powers, surely the son-in-law of my husband is living there.LAMPADISCUS Surely— PHANOSTRATA(to LAMPADISCUS.) Interrupting again? (To HALISCA.) Go on relating it. How many years old is she said to be?HALISCA Seventeen. PHANOSTRATA She is my own daughter then!LAMPADISCUS’Tis she, as the number of her years has proved.HALISCA What you are seeking, you have found; I now seek what’s mine. LAMPADISCUS Why, faith, they’ve found what’s their own, I’ll seek for number threeFor number three: Quaero tertiam. Literally, I seek a third. This he says by way of joke; as one has been looking for her daughter another for the casket, he must look for something as well, a mistress, to wit..PHANOSTRATA My daughter, the object which I was seeking, I have discovered.HALISCA It’s proper to keep in safety what has been entrusted in confidence, lest a kindness should turn out a detriment to the well-deserving. This fosterling of ours is assuredly your daughter, and my mistress is about to restore you your own, and for that purpose has she come from her house. But, prithee, enquire of her own self; I am but a servant.PHANOSTRATA You ask what’s just.HALISCA To her rather do I choose this obligation to belong. But I beg that you’ll restore me that casket.PHANOSTRATA What’s to be done, Lampadio?