orks in his
shop?

Trippet
Exactly.

Worthy
Is it true?

Trippet
So true that the marriage may take place at any time.

Worthy
Oh, Harriet! How can you let them drag you to the altar without making
the least effort in my behalf?

Harriet
What do you expect me to do, Mr. Worthy?

Jeremy
Ladies, you have only to follow us to our inn. Our horses are all
saddled. We will disappear with you both.

Trippet
Good idea. We'll disappear. All's fair in love and war.

Worthy
Jeremy, I beg you. Think up some plan to prevent this detestable
marriage.

Jeremy
That's what I'm dreaming up. Use your imagination, too, Trippet.
You're good at this sort of thing.

Trippet
All right. Let's stir up our imagination.

Jeremy
Well. What have you come up with?

Trippet
Wait a while.

Jeremy
Dammit, I can't wait forever. I've already decided on the best plan.

Trippet
Let's hear it.

Jeremy
Simply to make Flem and Doctor Peacock quarrel. Won't that do it?

Trippet
Without a doubt.

Worthy
Sounds good to me.

Jeremy
Right, eh? See how easily I solve the most difficult puzzles.

Trippet
But, you haven't said how we'll do it.

Jeremy
Right. How to do it? Listen, hasn't some rich person recently died at
their hands?

Trippet
The Judge. Judge Glanville.

Jeremy
That's our luck! All we have to do is to tell the Doctor that Flem
says it was the Doctor's prescription that killed the patient. At the
same time, we tell Mr. Flem that the Doctor is blaming everything on
the way the prescription was compounded.

Worthy
I like that idea.

Trippet
Won't work.

Harriet
Why not?

Trippet
I tell you, it won't work. Mr. Flem and Dr. Peacock are too hand-in-
glove. For twenty years they've been killing people--some of the
nicest people in this city--and they never quarrel over it. And you
think they're going to quarrel over a mere magistrate. Why, they've
done in lords and ladies.

Jeremy
I've got another idea. This one is matchless. Is it true that Doctor
Peacock has an insurance policy on some peasant?

Trippet
Nothing is more true.

Jeremy
So much the better. This gives me the plan, which I believe, must
infallibly succeed. I would like to speak to this peasant.

Trippet (pointing)
There's the door to his room. You can go in. He's alone.

Jeremy
Leave it to me. That's all I need to know.

(Exit Jeremy.)

Harriet
What do you suppose he's up to?

Worthy
I don't know, but Jeremy is a world