Why not?
MARINELLI.
Heaven and h.e.l.l! You shall hear from me.
APPIANI.
Pshaw! The ape is malicious, but----
MARINELLI.
Death and d.a.m.nation!--Count, I demand satisfaction.
APPIANI.
You shall have it.
MARINELLI.
----And would insist upon it instantly--but that I should not like to spoil the day for the loving bridegroom.
APPIANI.
Good--natured creature!--(_seizes his arm_). I own an emba.s.sy to Ma.s.sa does not suit me, but still I have time enough to take a walk with you.
Come.
MARINELLI (_extricates himself from the_ Count's _grasp_).
Patience, my lord, patience! (_Exit_.)
Scene XI.
Appiani, Claudia.
APPIANI.
Go, worthless wretch----Ha! that does me good. My blood circulates----I feel different and all the better.
CLAUDIA (_hastily and alarmed_).
Heavens! My lord--I overheard an angry altercation. Your cheek is flushed. What has happened?
APPIANI.
Nothing, Madam, nothing. The chamberlain Marinelli has conferred a favour on me. He has saved me a visit to the Prince.
CLAUDIA.
Indeed!
APPIANI.
We can therefore leave town earlier. I go to give orders to my people, and shall return immediately. Emilia will, in the meantime, get ready.
CLAUDIA.
May I feel quite at ease, my lord?
APPIANI.
Perfectly so, dear Madam. (_Exeunt severally_.)
ACT III.
Scene, _an apartment in the_ Prince's _country palace_.
Scene I.
_Enter_ Prince _and_ Marinelli.
MARINELLI.
In vain. He refused the proffered honour with the greatest contempt.
PRINCE.
This ends all hope, then. Things take their course,
MARINELLI.
According to all appearances.
PRINCE.
I relied so firmly on your project--but who knows how ridiculously you acted? I ought to have recollected that though a blockhead's counsel may be good, it requires a clever man to execute it.
MARINELLI.
A pretty reward, this!
PRINCE.
Why should you be rewarded?