e. I know you will be kind enough to forgive me,
and I bring some one with me, who, I am sure, will secure your pardon.

_Cost._ Though surely in your own house and with a real friend such
ceremony is needless, your company is always agreeable. I desire you
will put yourself to no inconvenience.

_Gian._ Do you hear, Lieutenant? You see we Dutch are not without wit.

_De la Cot._ This is not the first time I have observed it.

_Cost._ Monsieur de la Cotterie is in a house that does honour to our
country, and if he admires ladies of wit, he need not go out of it.

_Gian._ You are too polite, Mademoiselle.

_Cost._ I simply do justice to merit.

_Gian._ Let us not dispute about our merits, but rather leave it to the
Lieutenant to decide.

_De la Cot._ If you wish a decision, you must choose a better judge.

_Gian._ A partial one, indeed, cannot be a good judge.

_Cost._ And to say nothing of partiality, he feels under obligations to
you as the mistress of the house.

_Gian._ Oh, in France, the preference is always given to the guest: is
it not so, Lieutenant?

_De la Cot._ It is no less the custom in Holland, than in my own
country.

_Cost._ That is to say, the greater the merit, the greater the
distinction with which they are treated.

_Gian._ On that principle you would be treated with the most
distinction.

_De la Cot._ [_Aside._] I shall get into trouble if this conversation
continues.

_Cost._ By your leave, Mademoiselle.

_Gian._ Why do you leave us so soon?

_Cost._ I am engaged to my aunt; I promised to dine with her to-day, and
it is not amiss to go early.

_Gian._ Oh, it is too early; your aunt is old, and you will perhaps
still find her in bed.

_De la Cot._ [_Aside._] Do not prevent her from going.

_Gian._ He begs me to detain you.

_Cost._ I am overpowered by your politeness. [_Curtseying._]--[_Aside._]
Her amusement is to torment me.

_Gian._ [_To_ Costanza.] What say you, my friend, have I not a good
heart?

_Cost._ I must praise your kindness to me.

_Gian._ [_To_ De la Cotterie.] And do you, too, own you are under
obligations to me?

_De la Cot._ Yes, certainly, I have reason to be grateful to you; you,
who know my feelings, must be conscious of the great favour you do me.
[_Ironically._]

_Gian._ [_To_ Costanza.] You hear him? he is delighted.

_Cost._ My dear friend, as you have such a regard for me, and take so
much interest in him, allow me to speak freely to you