_Marq._ But--a hundred thousand livres in diamonds!
_Fior._ Do you mean the jewels he has showed to his bride--
_Fior._ And which he will never pay for. Frontino told me they were not bought, but borrowed.
_Marq._ Borrowed! Damn! Good, good, excellent!--an underhand miser--hypocrite! Damn, damn! A fellow--odious--despicable--My daughter?--Oaf! Sup with him?--Great feast--No oats for the horses--Go and see the poor beasts.
_Fior._ Not that way, Signor. The stables are in the other court.
_Marq._ Double court--No corn--Great palace--No oats for his horses! [_Exeunt._
_Count._ Make haste! Place and light those candles, that there may be a splendid illumination!
_Count._ Pshaw! Thy activity and talents, Frontino, are quite sufficient.
_Front._ [_Aside._] So much for compliments.
_Count._ I am vexed at again not finding the Marchioness and her aunt at home. Surely they will come to supper. See how the candles waste; shut the doors and windows.
_Front._ [_Aside._] He has odd modes of saving.
_Count._ I feel myself quite animated. The supper grand! The illumination grand! The--Some of my guests, and those not mean ones, will acknowledge and do justice to my dessert. I grant the expense is great; but expense, if it is properly incurred, can be borne once in a while.--[_To_ Frontino.] Should any one ask for me, I am here with the Marquis.--[_To himself._] Let me but finish affairs with him, and the difficulty with his daughter will be but little.
SCENE II.--Frontino, _and then_ Fiorillo.
_Fior._ [_Entering._] Here am I. What do you want?
_Front._ [_Giving him a light._] Help me to light the candles.
_Fior._ Willingly. [_Both lighting and chatting at the same time._]
_Front._ Gently! gently! Mind how you turn that chandelier; the candles are only short bits fastened on coloured sticks.
_Fior._ Do not fear. I hope we shall sup together?
_Front._ Should anything be left. The dishes are large; the contents small.
_Front._ Zounds! if we have, I must pay for it.
_Fior._ Among so many, how can one be missed?
_Front._ I will tell you. The Count has a certain number of coloured pellets in his pocket. He draws them out one by one as the bottles are emptied.
_Front._ [_Seeing the_ Count _return._] Hush!