d
pellets in his pocket. He draws them out one by one as the bottles are
emptied.

_Fior._ Oh, the devil!

_Front._ [_Seeing the_ Count _return._] Hush!

SCENE III.--_Enter the_ Count.

_Count._ [_Angry and aside._] Could such a thing be expected? A man of
my rank and riches? Rudeness so great! Contempt so visible! Tell me his
daughter is not for me! Will not come to supper, and then to sneer and
laugh at me! He too!--so weak and foolish! Talk of nothing but oats; a
reiteration of oats, oats!--[_To_ Fiorillo _haughtily._] Your master
wants you. Go!

_Fior._ I have had the honour of helping my comrade, Signor.

_Count._ Have the complaisance now to help yourself, and be gone.
[_Exit_ Fiorillo.

SCENE IV.--_The_ Count _and_ Frontino.

_Front._ [_Aside._] We shall have bad weather; there is something new in
the wind.

_Count._ [_To himself._] What a blockhead was I! Absurd design! Is not
money worth more than ruined antiquity? Oh yes! I will marry the
captious beauty; marry her in despite of her and of myself. No more
attentions; no more respectfulness; no more complaisance for any
one.--[_To_ Frontino.] Put out the lights.

_Front._ Put them out, Signor?

_Count._ Do as you are bid! Make haste!

_Front._ Very pretty! [_Begins to extinguish._]

_Count._ [_Aside._] Deceive me! Laugh at me! Once more for Madame
Araminta.--[_To_ Frontino.] Will you never have done? [_Puts out some
candles with his hat._]

_Front._ But the supper? Everything ready.

_Count._ How many dishes?

_Front._ I have brought out all the silver, as you ordered; and large
and small, though most of the last, there will be forty.

_Count._ [_Putting out a candle._] They will last forty days.

_Front._ But, Signor--

_Count._ Silence babbler! [_Puts out the last, and they are in the
dark._]

_Front._ So, here we are, and here we may stay.

_Count._ Why did you put out the last candle?

_Front._ I do not think it was I, Signor.

_Count._ Go for a light.

_Front._ Nay, but how to find the door.

_Count._ Stop! stop! I hear somebody.

SCENE V.--_The stage dark. Enter_ Fiorillo.

_Fior._ What can this mean? All in total darkness! Perhaps there will be
no supper?

_Front._ [_Aside to the_ Count.] I think it is Fiorillo.

_Count._ [_Softly, and holding_ Frontino _by the arm._] Stay where you
are, and speak as if I were gone.--[_Aside._] I may make some discovery.