old man? [_Takes the Purse._]
As I said, 'tis too great a bounty; but Saint Dominick shall owe you
another scape: I'll put him in mind of you.

_Lor._ If you please, father, we will not trouble him 'till the next
battle. But you may do me a greater kindness, by conveying my prayers
to a female saint.

_Dom._ A female saint! good now, good now, how your devotions jump
with mine! I always loved the female saints.

_Lor._ I mean, a female, mortal, married-woman-saint: Look upon the
superscription of this note; you know Don Gomez's wife.
[_Gives him a Letter._

_Dom._ Who? Donna Elvira? I think I have some reason; I am her ghostly
father.

_Lor._ I have some business of importance with her, which I have
communicated in this paper; but her husband is so horribly given to be
jealous,--

_Dom._ Ho, jealous? he's the very quintessence of jealousy; he keeps
no male creature in his house; and from abroad he lets no man come
near her.

_Lor._ Excepting you, father.

_Dom._ Me, I grant you; I am her director and her guide in spiritual
affairs: But he has his humours with me too; for t'other day he called
me false apostle.

_Lor._ Did he so? that reflects upon you all; on my word, father, that
touches your copy-hold. If you would do a meritorious action, you
might revenge the church's quarrel.--My letter, father,--

_Dom._ Well, so far as a letter, I will take upon me; for what can I
refuse to a man so charitably given?

_Lor._ If you bring an answer back, that purse in your hand has a
twin-brother, as like him as ever he can look; there are fifty pieces
lie dormant in it, for more charities.

_Dom._ That must not be; not a farthing more, upon my priesthood.--But
what may be the purport and meaning of this letter? that, I confess, a
little troubles me.

_Lor._ No harm, I warrant you.

_Dom._ Well, you are a charitable man; and I'll take your word: my
comfort is, I know not the contents; and so far I am blameless. But an
answer you shall have; though not for the sake of your fifty pieces
more: I have sworn not to take them; they shall not be altogether
fifty. Your mistress--forgive me, that I should call her your
mistress, I meant Elvira,--lives but at next door: I'll visit her
immediately; but not a word more of the nine-and-forty pieces.

_Lor._ Nay, I'll wait on you down stairs.--Fifty pounds for the
postage of a letter! to send by the church is certainly the dea