_Don Fer._ Oh, then the fellow has found his way at last. Don Scipio--Ladies--excuse me a moment.

[_Exit FERNANDO._

_Lor._ What a charming fellow!

_Don Scipio._ What an impudent rascal!

_Ped._ [_Without._] Is my master this way?

_Don Scipio._ Master! ay, this is Fernando.

_Enter PEDRILLO, with a Portmanteau._

_Ped._ Oh dear! I've got among the gentlefolks--I ask pardon.

_Isab._ How well he does look and act the servant!

_Don Scipio._ Admirable; yet I perceive the grandee under the livery.

_Isab._ Please to sit, sir.

[_With great respect._

_Lor._ A livery servant sit down by me!

_Don Scipio._ Pray sit down, sir.

[_Ceremoniously._

_Ped._ Sit down! [_Sits._] Oh, these must be the upper servants of the family--her ladyship here is the housekeeper, I suppose--the young tawdry t.i.t, lady's maid--(Hey, her mistress throws off good clothes,) and Old Whiskers, Don Scipio's butler.

[_Aside._

_Enter DON FERNANDO._

_Don Fer._ Pedrillo! how! seated! what means this disrespect?

_Ped._ Sir, [_Rises to him._] Old Whiskers, the butler there, asked me to sit down by Signora the waiting-maid here.

_Don Fer._ Sirrah!

_Ped._ Yes, sir.

_Don Scipio._ Sir and sirrah! how rarely they act their parts! I'll give them an item, though, that I understand the plot of their comedy.

[_Aside._

AIR VIII.--QUINTETTO.

D. Scipio. _Signor!_ [To PEDRILLO.]

_Your wits must be keener,_ _Our prudence to elude,_ _Your fine plot,_ _Tho' so pat,_ _Will do you little good._

Ped. _My fine plot!_ _I'm a sot,_ _If I know what_ _These gentlefolks are at._

Fer. _Past the perils of the night,_ _Tempests, darkness, rude alarms;_ _Phoebus rises clear and bright,_ _In the l.u.s.tre of your charms._

Lor. _O, charming, I declare,_ _So polite a cavalier!_ _He understands the duty_ _And homage due to beauty._

D. Scipio. _Bravo! O bravissimo!_

Lor. _Caro! O carissimo!_ _How sweet his honey words,_ _How n.o.ble is his mien!_

D. Scipio. _Fine feathers make fine birds,_ _The footman's to be seen._ _But both deserve a basting!_

Ped. _Since morning I've been fasting._

D. Scipio. _Yet I could laugh for anger._

Ped. _Oh, I could cry for hunger._

D. Scipio. _I could laugh._

Ped. _I could cry._

D. Scipio. _I could quaff._

Ped. _So could I._

D. Scipio. _Ha! ha! ha! I'm in a fit._

Ped. _Oh, I could pick a little bit._

D. Scipio. _Ha! ha! ha!_

Ped. _Oh! oh! oh!_

Lor. _A very pleasant party!_

D. Fer. _A whimsical reception!_

D. Scipio. _A whimsical deception!_ _But master and man, accept a welcome hearty._

D. Fer.} _Accept our thanks sincere, for such a welcome hearty._ Ped. }

ACT THE SECOND.