t._ She is a woman who has much business on her hands, and a large
correspondence. Doubtless they were letters just arrived.

_Baron._ No; they were old papers. I bet anything they were something
she had found either on the table or on the person of Signorina Candida.

_Count._ Dear friend, your suspicions are strange! Your imagination runs
away with you!

_Baron._ I imagine that which doubtless is the case. I suspect that an
understanding exists between Signorina Candida and Evarist.

_Count._ Impossible! Were it so, I should know it. I know everything!
There is nothing done in the village that I do not know! And further,
were it as you think, do you suppose Signorina Candida would ever have
accepted your proposal? How can you suppose she would thus compromise
the mediation of a nobleman of my standing?

_Baron._ Oh, for that a good reason can be found. She was forced to say
"Yes;" but Signora Geltrude was not as amiable to me after reading those
letters; indeed, she seemed to me to show pleasure that we should go.

_Count._ Well, I think that all we have to complain of against Signora
Geltrude is, that she did not ask us to stay to dinner with her.

_Baron._ To that I am indifferent.

_Count._ I gave her some hints, but she pretended not to understand.

_Baron._ I assure you she was most anxious we should leave.

_Count._ I am sorry for you. Where will you dine to-day?

_Baron._ I told the host to prepare dinner for two.

_Count._ For two?

_Baron._ I expect Evarist, who has gone shooting.

_Count._ If you will come and dine with me--

_Baron._ With you?

_Count._ But my dinner is half a mile from here.

_Baron._ Thank you, but the dinner is already ordered. Hi there,
Coronato!

SCENE II.

Coronato _from out the inn. The above._

_Coronato._ You called me?

_Baron._ Has Signor Evarist returned?

_Coronato._ I have not seen him yet, sir. I am sorry, because the dinner
is ready, and the food will get spoilt.

_Count._ Evarist is capable of amusing himself shooting till evening,
and making you lose your dinner.

_Baron._ What can I do? I promised to wait for him.

_Count._ Well, it's all very well to wait for him up to a certain point.
But, my dear friend, it does not seem to me you should wait long for a
person who is your social inferior. I admit the demands of politeness,
of humanity; but, my dear colleague, let us also preserve our
aristocratic decorum.

_Baron._ I feel half incline