sup in my room; all are invited. Dorval, in the meantime
we'll have a game of chess.

THE FAN

(_IL VENTAGLIO_)

A COMEDY IN THREE ACTS

DRAMATIS PERSONAE.

COUNT ROCCA MARINA.
BARON DEL CEDRO.
SIGNOR EVARIST.
SIGNORA GELTRUDE, _a widow._
CANDIDA, _her niece._
CORONATO, _an innkeeper._
MORACCHIO, _a peasant._
NINA, _his sister._
SUSANNA, _a small shopkeeper._
CRISPINO, _a shoemaker._
TIMOTEO, _an apothecary._
LIMONATO, _a waiter._
TOGNINO, _servant to the two ladies._
SCAVEZZO, _boots to the innkeeper._

_Scene of action, a little village near Milan._

THE FAN.

ACT I.

[An open space bounded at the back by a house bearing the inscription
_Osteria_ (_Inn_). Houses to right and left; on the left a gentleman's
mansion with a low projecting terrace. The foremost house has the word
Cafe upon a swinging shield; before its main door and windows stand
small tables and chairs. It has also a back door which adjoins a little
pharmacy. At the end of the right-hand side of houses, a small general
store. The inn has a restaurant on the ground-floor, and on the left a
small shoemaker's workshop. Right and left, between the inn and the side
houses, runs the street.]

SCENE I.

[_Evarist_ and the _Baron_ sit towards the front at a little table
drinking coffee. _Limonato_ serves them. _Crispino_ is cobbling in his
booth, near to him _Coronato_ sitting beside his door, writing in a
note-book. The _Boots_ cleans the restaurant windows. In the middle of
the stage sits the _Count_ reading a book. He is dressed in a white
summer costume, while the _Baron_ and _Evarist_ are in shooting dress,
with their guns beside them. _Geltrude_ and _Candida_ on the terrace,
knitting. To the right _Tognino_ is sweeping the square, _Nina_ is
spinning before her house door, beside her stands _Moracchio_ holding
two hunting dogs by a cord. Every now and again _Timoteo_ puts his head
out of the pharmacy; in the background _Susanna_, sewing before her
shop. A pause after the rise of the curtain. All absorbed in their
occupations. _Crispino_ hammers energetically upon a shoe at which he is
working. _Timoteo_ is pounding loudly in a mortar, therefore invisible.]

_Evarist._ How do you like this coffee?

_Baron._ It is good.

_Evarist._ I find it excellent. Bravo, Limonato! to-day you have
surpass