_Front._ Vile cheat! What are you talking about?
_Fior._ Really, my dear Frontino, you are no longer the same. Change thus in a minute! You speak as if your master were here.
_Front._ I speak as I have always spoken. I love my master, obey my master, respect my master, and--and--he's a gentleman.
_Count._ [_Shaking him with great anger._] Scoundrel!
_Fior._ And all you have said of his avarice is false?
_Count._ Villain! [_Shaking_ Frontino _till he falls._]
_Fior._ What now? Where are you? What has fallen? [_Exit the_ Count, _feeling till he finds the door._
SCENE VI.--Frontino _and_ Fiorillo, _then the_ Count.
_Front._ [_Aside._] The devil take you!--[_Feeling about._] Where are you, Signor?
_Fior._ Hey-day! You have taken a cup already, my friend.
_Front._ Ah! ah! Here he comes. God help my poor back.
_Count._ [_Entering with a candle, speaks softly._] Traitor! Dog!--[_Aloud._] Hark you, Frontino!
_Count._ [_Aside._] If we were alone!--[_Aloud._] Go and tell Madame Araminta I wish to speak to her, either in her room or my own.
_Front._ Yes, Signor.--[_Aside._]--I will not trust his looks.--[_To the_ Count.] Do not think--
_Count._ [_Disdainfully._] Deliver your message.
_Front._ [_Aside._] I see how it is. You must pack off, my friend Frontino. [_Exit._
_Fior._ You have a faithful servant there, Signor.
_Count._ You do not know him, friend. An ungrateful fellow, to whom I have been kind and generous in vain. A professed liar! I discovered him, gave him warning; and, to revenge himself, the rascal speaks ill of me. [_Going with the light he brought._]
_Fior._ Excuse me; this room is dark: permit me to light another candle.
_Count._ Certainly. I can't tell why they were all put out.
_Fior._ Frontino is a good servant, and knows how to manage.
_Count._ [_Aside._] The hound! I would send him to the devil if I could find a servant for as little wages. [_Exit._
_Fior._ If I had not got this light, here I might have stayed.
_Marq._ [_Entering._] I should like to know--? [_To_ Fiorillo.] Did you not say--? Tell him to come here.
_Fior._ Yes.--[_Aside._] He is not always to be understood.--[_Aloud._] First suffer me to light a candle.
_Marq._ Another--I love--Good, good, excellent! See clear. [_Lights a third himself._]