Scene II.
Battista, The Prince, Marinelli.
Enter BATTISTA (hastily).
The Countess is arrived.
PRINCE.
The Countess? What Countess?
BATTISTA.
Orsina!
PRINCE.
Orsina? Marinelli!
MARINELLI.
I am as much astonished as yourself.
PRINCE (to Battista).
Go--run--Battista. She must not alight. I am not here--not here to her. She must return this instant. Go, go. (Exit Battista). What does the silly woman want? How dares she take this liberty? How could she know that we were here? Is she come as a spy? Can she have heard anything? Oh, Marinelli, speak, answer me. Is the man offended, who vows he is my friend--offended by a paltry altercation? Shall I beg pardon?
MARINELLI.
Prince, as soon as you recover yourself, I am yours again, with my whole soul. The arrival of Orsina is as much an enigma to me as to you. But she will not be denied. What will you do?
PRINCE.
I will not speak to her. I will withdraw.
MARINELLI.
Right! Do so instantly; I will receive her.
PRINCE.
But merely to dismiss her. No more. We have other business to perform.
MARINELLI.
Not so, not so. Our other things are done. Summon up resolution and all deficiencies will be supplied. But do I not hear her? Hasten, Prince. In that room (pointing to an adjoining apartment, to which the Prince retires)--you may, if you please, listen to our conversation. She comes, I fear, at an unpropitious moment for her.