Chapter XII: Act II: SCENE I.--Dorimene and Eleonora

_Dor._ Come here, my dear Eleonora; I wish to speak to you alone. My brother, I believe, is gone out. [_Looks out._] He is not in his cabinet.

_Eleon._ [_Aside._] What can she have to say? She has a friendship for me, but I believe her interest is more for her brother. I can expect no consolation.

_Dor._ We are alone, and may speak freely. Permit me first to observe that within these few days you have had a serious, melancholy air, which seems but little to suit your expectations.

_Eleon._ It is natural to me, Madame; more or less, I am always so.

_Dor._ Excuse me; but on your arrival at Paris you had no such gloomy expression. You are entirely changed, and certainly not without cause.

_Eleon._ But really there is no such change.

_Dor._ My good young friend, you conceal the truth, and want confidence in me. Be a little more just, and rest assured that, though I proposed a marriage between you and my brother, no foolish ambition makes me wish it should succeed at the expense of your heart. Tell me openly what are your wishes; speak freely, and you shall see whether I am your friend.

_Eleon._ [_Aside._] If I durst, but--No, no.

_Dor._ Have you any dislike to my brother?

_Eleon._ I have not long had the honour of his acquaintance, Madame.

_Dor._ His age, for example, may seem a little too great when compared with your own.

_Eleon._ The age of a man does not appear to me a thing of great importance.

_Dor._ You perhaps think that my brother is rather too economical.

_Eleon._ You know, Madame, I have been educated in economy.

_Dor._ If so, my dear Eleonora, to my great satisfaction, I have been entirely mistaken, and you will be perfectly happy with my brother.

_Eleon._ I!--Do you think so?

_Dor._ No doubt; it cannot be otherwise. I have questioned you with the best intentions, and you have answered--sincerely, as I must believe.

_Eleon._ Oh, certainly.

_Dor._ Then be at peace; your heart tells me you will be happy.

_Eleon._ [_Affected._] My heart, Madame!

_Dor._ Your heart.

_Eleon._ Ah! I do not understand my own heart.

_Dor._ Why are you so much moved?

_Eleon._ [_Looking off the stage._] Did not some one call me?

_Dor._ Called? Where? By whom?

_Eleon._ [_Going._] Perhaps my mother--perhaps somebody--

_Dor._ No, no; pray stay. Your mother knows you are with me, and therefore cannot be in fear. I have something more to say to you.

_Eleon._ [_Aside._] How difficult to disguise my feelings!

_Dor._ Remember, your heart has told me--

_Eleon._ [_Timorously._] What, Madame?

_Dor._ You are in love with another.

_Eleon._ [_Confused._] I, Madame!

_Dor._ You; your blushes confirm it.

_Eleon._ [_Aside._] Heavens! have I betrayed myself?--[_Aloud._] You will not tell this to my mother? I shall be lost!

_Dor._ No, no; fear nothing. Though you have discovered that you cannot confide in me, I love you tenderly, and am incapable of giving you needless pain. Here your mother comes; let us consider between ourselves.

_Eleon._ Ah, Madame! [_Embracing._]

SCENE II.--_Enter_ Araminta.

_Aram._ Well, child; I fear you are troublesome.

_Eleon._ Pardon me, but--

_Dor._ We are friends, and I entreated her to keep me company.

_Aram._ You are kinder to her than she deserves. I cannot understand her; she is become so melancholy and dull.

_Dor._ The air of Paris may not agree with her.

_Aram._ Do you think so? Since she left the place of her education, she is no longer the same. Nothing pleases, nothing diverts her. Music, reading, and drawing are all forsaken. I have spared no expense, and have taken no little delight in perceiving her progress; while, at present, I am equally surprised to see her thus negligent. I willingly incur expense for any good purpose; but no one can be more angry than I am at squandering money.

_Eleon._ [_Aside._] It is very true. I no longer know myself.

_Dor._ Nay, Madame.

_Aram._ If she wishes to return to her retirement, why not say so?

_Dor._ Oh, no, Madame; she has no such wish.

_Aram._ But why, then, child, are you so gloomy, so indolent? You are soon to be married, and to direct a family; this requires activity, attention, and order, as you may see by my example. I am busy from morning to evening, here and there, going, coming, helping, commanding, and sometimes obliged to find fault; but, by these means, all goes well.

_Eleon._ [_Aside._] I hoped to do the same, but all my hopes are flown!

_Dor._ Oh, Madame, when your daughter's heart shall be at ease--

_Aram._ At ease! What does she want? Is not the marriage contract to be signed to-day?

_Dor._ Here comes my brother! He can best inform you--

_Eleon._ [_Aside._] How miserable am I!

SCENE III.--_Enter the_ Count _and a_ Jeweller.

_Count._ I am happy, ladies, to find you together. I came purposely to ask your advice.

_Aram._ On what subject? Ladies are sometimes excellent advisers.

_Count._ [_To the_ Jeweller.] Show your case of jewels.

_Aram._ [_Aside._] Jewels! He may well ask advice in such articles; it is easy to be cheated.

_Jew._ [_Presenting the case to_ Dorimene.] Please examine if there can be purer and more perfect diamonds.

_Count._ Pray give me your opinion.

_Dor._ I think them admirable! What say you, Eleonora?

_Eleon._ [_With indifference._] I do not understand such things.

_Aram._ I do--show them to me. Though I never wore any diamonds, trade has made me well acquainted with them. [_Taking the case._] These are fine, indeed! Perfectly assorted, and of a beautiful water. What is their price?

_Count._ Oh, that is a secret between ourselves. [_To the_ Jeweller.] Is it not?

_Jew._ My lord--I have nothing to say.

_Aram._ [_Aside._] So much the worse; the Count will be the more easily imposed upon. He comes to ask advice, and then refuses to hear it.

_Count._ [_Apart, to the_ Jeweller.] My good friend, will you trust your diamonds with me three or four days?

_Jew._ [_To the_ Count.] If the ladies think them good, and well chosen, I should prefer--

_Count._ Nay, friend; jewels of this value must not be purchased without reflection. Knowing me, you cannot be afraid.

_Jew._ By no means! They are at your service.

_Count._ Be pleased to return at the end of the week. I know the price, and you shall then have the money or the diamonds.

_Jew._ I am much obliged to you, Signor. [_Exit._

SCENE IV.

_Count._ [_Aside._] Excellent! just as I wished!--[_To_ Eleonora.] Will you do me the favour, Madame, to wear the jewels I have the honour to present you, at least for to-day.

_Dor._ To-day?

_Count._ It is the day on which we are to sign the contract, and we shall have thirty persons at table.

_Aram._ Thirty!

_Count._ At least, Madame.

_Aram._ [_Aside._] He will ruin himself! But I will hear more.

_Count._ [_Presenting the case to_ Dorimene.] Dear sister, let me request you to take this case, and to kindly be present at the toilet of this lady, to assist in arranging the diamonds. Will you do me the pleasure, charming Eleonora, to accept my sister's aid?

_Eleon._ [_Coldly._] My mamma never wears diamonds.

_Aram._ Do not be silly, child. I did not wear diamonds, because my husband was too prudent to indulge in such expenses; but, if the Count think differently, complaisance requires your acquiescence.

_Eleon._ But, you know, mamma--

_Aram._ Oh, I know--I know, child! You do not know good breeding. Accept them gratefully.

_Eleon._ [_Aside._] Unhappy me!--[_To the_ Count.] Signor--I am greatly obliged.

_Dor._ [_Apart to the_ Count.] Are you satisfied with such a cold manner?

_Count._ Perfectly.

_Dor._ Have you no dissatisfaction; no fears?

_Count._ Not the least.

_Dor._ [_Aside._] What a singular man is my brother?

SCENE V.--_Enter_ Frontino.

_Front._ Here is a letter, sir.

_Count._ With your permission, ladies.

_Aram._ By all means. [_To_ Dorimene.] Let us examine the jewels a little.

_Count._ [_To himself, having read the letter._] The marquis comes at an ill time! After a dinner of thirty guests, I must give him a supper! He asks it with so little ceremony too! How can it be managed?

_Dor._ What is the matter, brother?

_Count._ [_Affecting cheerfulness._] Nothing, nothing. I have just received news which gives me pleasure. The Marquis del Bosco is arrived, and coming to sup with me this evening.

_Eleon._ [_Agitated._] What do I hear?

_Aram._ I know the Marquis; his county seat is not three miles distant from mine.

_Count._ You will see him this evening, with the Marchioness his daughter, and the Chevalier his son.

_Eleon._ [_Still more agitated._] The Chevalier! O Heaven!

_Count._ I hope they will be in time to be present, when we sign the contract.

_Eleon._ [_Still aside._] Fatal trial! How shall I support it?

_Aram._ What is the matter, daughter?

_Eleon._ Nothing--not much--a sudden giddiness.

_Count._ [_To_ Araminta.] For Heaven's sake, take care of--[_To_ Frontino.] Don't go.

_Aram._ The open air will revive her.

_Dor._ Let us walk into the garden.

_Aram._ By all means.

_Dor._ Is the door open, brother?

_Count._ No; but here is the key.

_Dor._ [_Aside._] He will trust it to nobody, but has it always in his pocket.--Come, Eleonora.--[_Aside._] This may be a proper opportunity. [_Retiring with_ Eleonora.]

_Count._ [_To_ Araminta.] I hope, Madame, this attack is trifling; but the young lady should not be exposed to the least danger. If you think proper, we will defer the dinner of to-day, and have a supper instead.

_Aram._ Just as you please--but your dinners and suppers--I have much to say to you on such subjects. My daughter may want me; I will return presently.

SCENE VI.

_Count._ [_Earnestly._] Hark ye, Frontino! send messengers immediately, to inform the guests I have invited that, instead of dinner, I entreat them to honour me with their company at supper.

_Front._ So, so! But it will be difficult to find them all, so late in the day.

_Count._ No matter. Those who may come to dinner must be told of the change. They will return to supper, or not, as they please.

_Front._ Yes, Signor.--[_Aside._] Admirable! quite in character!
[_Exit._

_Count._ This visit comes at a lucky time! Nothing could be more fortunate.

SCENE VII.--_Enter_ Araminta

_Count._ Well, dear Madame? Eleonora?

_Aram._ All, I hope, will be well.

_Count._ Then I shall be happy; for health should be our first care. I have sent round to the guests, with an invitation to supper this evening.

_Aram._ Thirty persons at supper!

_Count._ I hope so, Madame.

_Aram._ Permit me to speak openly, and tell you all I think.

_Count._ You cannot give me greater pleasure.

_Aram._ Is it not extreme folly to assemble thirty persons, twenty of whom, at least, will make a jest of you?

_Count._ A _jest_ of _me_?

_Aram._ Beyond all doubt. Do not think I am avaricious; thank heaven, that is not my defect; but I cannot endure to see money squandered.

_Count._ But, on such a day, and under such circumstances.

_Aram._ Are they your relations, whom you have invited?

_Count._ By no means. A select company; the nobility! the literati! the magistracy! all persons of distinction.

_Aram._ Worse and worse! Vanity, ostentation, folly! My good friend, you do not know the value of money.

_Count._ [_Smiles._] I do not know the value of money!

_Aram._ Alas, you do not! Your sister made me believe you were economical; had I known the truth, I should never have married my daughter to a spendthrift.

_Count._ So you think me a spendthrift!

_Aram._ I first perceived it by the considerable sum you threw away in the purchase of a title; which sacrifice to vanity has no beneficial end.

_Count._ How! Are you not aware the rank I have acquired will impress a character of respect on myself, your daughter, and our descendants?

_Aram._ Quite the reverse. I would have rather given my daughter to you, as Signor Anselmo Colombani, a well-known merchant, than to the Count of Casteldoro, a newly-made nobleman.

_Count._ But, Madame--

_Aram._ Your ancestors have saved what you will scatter.

_Count._ Scatter! I! You are mistaken, Madame. You do not know me.

_Aram._ Oh yes, yes. I saw the manner in which, without any knowledge of diamonds, or asking the least advice, you were led away by the jeweller.

_Count._ Oh, with respect to the diamonds--

_Aram._ Ah, ay! I know your answer. They are to decorate the Countess of Casteldoro. And who is the Countess of Casteldoro? My daughter, Signor, has been well educated, but with no such expectations. Everything has been done in abundance, that could contribute to convenience, decency, and information; but nothing to pomp and vanity. The ornaments of my daughter ever will be modesty, obedience, and that self-respect which she could not but acquire from such an education.

_Count._ [_A little moved._] But, Madame--

_Aram._ [_Very warmly._] But, Signor--[_softening_]--I ask your pardon--Perhaps you may think me too warm; but I see you hurried into a gulf of expense that makes me tremble. My daughter's happiness is concerned: I give her a hundred thousand crowns in marriage.

_Count._ [_Somewhat haughtily._] Am I not able to settle an equal sum upon her?

_Aram._ Yes, at present. But wealth will diminish; and especially when we have the vanity to be profuse, grand, and magnificent.

_Count._ I once more assure you, Madame, you do not know me.

_Aram._ Signor, had you been a different person, I had conceived an excellent plan. My annual income is five-and-twenty thousand livres: I might have lived with you and my daughter, and the two families might have become one; but, at present, Heaven preserve me from taking such a step!

_Count._ [_Aside._] She will drive me mad!--[_To_ Araminta.] Pray hear me. [_Whispering and cunningly._] You mistake my character. Few people indeed understand economy so well as I do, as you will soon be convinced. I willingly close with your proposal, and--

_Aram._ By no means! You try in vain to persuade me against conviction. Respecting my daughter--I have promised--we shall see--but for myself it is different. Not all the gold on earth should induce me to make such an arrangement, with a man who does not know the use of money, but lets it slip through his fingers faster than flour through a sieve. [_Exit._

_Count._ This is admirable! I never imagined I should pass for a prodigal. [_Exit._

END OF THE SECOND ACT.