ice, and is moreover of a noble family.

_Ric._ Is he rich?

_Phil._ He is a younger son.

_Ric._ If he is not rich, I value but little his nobility, and still
less his profession.

_Phil._ My dear friend, let us speak confidentially. A man like you,
blessed with a large fortune, can never better employ fifty or sixty
thousand florins, than by bestowing them on his daughter, when she
marries so worthy a man.

_Ric._ On this occasion, I would not give ten livres.

_Phil._ And to whom will you give your daughter?

_Ric._ If I am to dispose of so large a sum of money, I wish to place it
in one of the best houses in Holland.

_Phil._ You will never do so.

_Ric._ I shall never do so?

_Phil._ No, never.

_Ric._ Why not?

_Phil._ Because the respectable houses in Holland have no occasion to
enrich themselves in this manner.

_Ric._ You esteem this French officer highly?

_Phil._ Most highly.

_Ric._ Why not then give him your own daughter?

_Phil._ Why not? Because--because I do not choose.

_Ric._ And I do not choose to give him mine.

_Phil._ There is some difference between you and me.

_Ric._ I do not perceive in what it consists.

_Phil._ We know very well how you began.

_Ric._ But we do not know how you will end.

_Phil._ Your language is too arrogant.

_Ric._ Were we not in your house, it should be stronger.

_Phil._ I will let you know who I am.

_Ric._ I am not afraid of you.

_Phil._ Go; we will speak of this again.

_Ric._ Yes, again.--[_Aside._] If he ever falls into my hands--if I
catch him in the least evasion of the revenue laws--I swear I will
destroy him. [_Exit._

_Phil._ A rascal! a brute without civility! an impertinent fellow!

_Enter_ De la Cotterie.

_De la Cot._ [_Aside._] Their conference, ending in an altercation,
makes me hope he has refused his daughter.

_Phil._ [_Aside._] I am not I, if I do not let him see--

_De la Cot._ Monsieur--

_Phil._ An ill-tempered, worthless--

_De la Cot._ Are these compliments intended for me, sir?

_Phil._ Pardon me; I am carried away by my anger.

_De la Cot._ Who has offended you?

_Phil._ That insolent fellow, Monsieur Riccardo.

_De la Cot._ And has he refused his consent to the marriage?

_Phil._ [_Aside._] I am sorry I must bring this new trouble on the poor
Lieutenant.

_De la Cot._ [_Aside._] Heaven be praised! fortune at last aids me.

_Phil._ My friend, never give way to resentment--to impatienc