ith these people. (aloud)
Listen, Mr. Colonel, so as not to waste time talking, I am going to
count out a hundred gold pieces--or more.

Jeremy
I am incorruptible.

Trippet
What, sir, can you resist the sound of money and the prayers of a
beautiful lady?

Jeremy
How can I resist? I am not a judge. Do you take me for a judge?

Trippet
Dr. Peacock has a ten thousand pound insurance policy on the life of
this man.

Peacock
That's right. Would you consider going shares on him?

Jeremy
I don't know what to do.

Trippet
If you wish to kill him, let us die with him.

Jeremy
Well, then--let him run the gauntlet.

Trippet
Listen, Mr. Colonel, I've got an idea how to fix everything.

Jeremy
How? What way?

Trippet
Marry my mistress.

Jeremy
What, me! For God's sake, my dear friend, if you don't have a better
idea than that, Rosebud is going to hang.

Worthy
Oh, it's too much. Colonel. You've go to give it up. Free him.

Jeremy
That's easy for you to say. But, if you were in my place--the rank of
Colonel would cause you to speak differently.

Worthy
No--word of honor.

Jeremy
All right! You marry her and I consent at that price to spare the
deserter.

Trippet
Come no, Mr. Major, consider how charming she is.

Worthy
I have little taste for marriage--but to please the Colonel--I'll do
it. But, only if the doctor gives me a large dowry. It is not right to
marry a woman who brings nothing.

Jeremy
He's right, Doctor. It's necessary to make it worth his while. Make
over all your wealth to him.

Peacock
Your humble servant. I prefer you to hang Mr. Rosebud. I'll be off
much cheaper.

Trippet
Mr. Major, you seem generous. Accept my mistress on the same terms she
was to be married to Mr. Flem. That's to say, for one-half the
interest on the ten thousand pounds that the Doctor has put on the
head of Dudley.

Peacock
That, I can live with.

Worthy
To accommodate you, sir, I would like to consent.

Flem
And, I won't object. I free you of your promise, Doctor.

(Exit Flem.)

Dudley
But, who will care for me? The father-in-law or the son-in-law?

Peacock
I will. I will treat you as I always have.

Dudley
That being the case, I prefer to run the gauntlet.

Worthy
No, Rosebud, no. I will care for you. I will care for his health.

Jeremy
I've suddenly taken it into my head to get married, too. With this
flirt.

Peacock
What, Colonel? You wish to marry the maid after having ref