I heard your porter say he was wonderfully like his highness.

Mel. [taking snuff]. You are complimentary.

Mme. Deschap. For shame, cousin Damas!--like the Prince, indeed!

Pauline. Like you! Ah, mother, like our beautiful prince! I'll never
speak to you again, cousin Damas.

Mel. [aside]. Humph!--rank is a great beautifier! I never passed for
an Apollo while I was a peasant; if I am so handsome as a prince, what
should I be as an emperor! [Aloud.] Monsieur Beauseant, will you honor
me? [Offers snuff.

Beau. No, your highness; I have no small vices.

Mel. Nay, if it were a vice, you'd be sure to have it, Monsieur
Beauseant.

Mme. Deschap. Ha! ha!--how very severe!--what wit!

Beau. [in a rage and aside]. Curse his impertinence!

Mme. Deschap. What a superb snuff-box! Pauline. And what a beautiful
ring!

Mel. You like the box--a trifle--interesting perhaps from associations--
a present from Louis XIV. to my great-great grandmother. Honor me
by--accepting it.

Beau. plucking him by the sleeve. How!--what the devil! My box--are you
mad? It is worth five hundred louis.

Mel. [unheeding him, and turning to PAULINE]. And you like this ring?
Ah, it has, indeed a lustre since your eyes have shone on it placing it
on her finger. Henceforth hold me, sweet enchantress, the Slave of the
Ring.

Gla. [pulling him]. Stay, stay--what are you about? My maiden aunt's
legacy--a diamond of the first water. You shall be hanged for swindling,
sir.

Mel. [pretending not to hear]. It is curious, this ring; it is the one
with which my grandfather, the Doge of Venice, married the Adriatic!

(Madame and PAULINE examine the ring.) Mel. [to BEAUSEANT and GLAVIS].
Fie, gentlemen! princes must be generous?--[Turns to DAMAS, who watches
them closely.] These kind friends have my interest so much at heart,
that they are as careful of my property as if it were their own!

Beau and Gla. [confusedly]. Ha! ha!--very good joke that!

[Appears to remonstrate with MELNOTTE in dumb show.

Damas. What's all that whispering? I am sure there is some juggle here:
hang me, if I think he is an Italian after all. Gad, I'll try him.
Servitore umillissimo, Eccellenza.* (* Your Excellency's most humble
servant.)

Mel. Hum--what does he mean, I wonder?

Damas. Godo di vedervi in buona salute.* (* I am glad to see you in good
health.)

Mel. Hem--hem!

Damas. Fa bel tempo--the si dice di nuovo? * (* Fine weather. What news
is there?)

Mel. W