Here has our master been a-glorifying and a-velveting and a-silking himself, and a-peacocking and a-spreading to catch her eye for a dozen year, till he hasn’t an eye left in his own tail to flourish among the peahens, and all along o’ you, Monna Giovanna, all along o’ you!
Elisabetta.
Sh—sh—Filippo! Can’t you hear that you are saying behind his back what you see you are saying afore his face?
Count.
Let him—he never spares me to my face!
Filippo.
No, my lord, I never spare your lordship to your lordship’s face, nor behind your lordship’s back, nor to right, nor to left, nor to round about and back to your lordship’s face again, for I’m honest, your lordship.
Count.
Come, come, Filippo, what is there in the larder?
[Elisabetta crosses to fireplace and puts on wood.