Part 18

_Aram._ [_Aside._] What a man! He would quickly have scattered my daughter's fortune.

_Count._ [_To the_ Notary.] Once more, the contract.

_Jew._ [_Advancing with a bow._] Signor Count.

_Count._ How now! What do _you_ want?

_Jew._ Permission to speak.

_Count._ [_Softly to the_ Jeweller.] I desired you to come in a week.

_Jew._ 'Tis true. But hearing you are this evening to be affianced, permit me to observe that, after my jewels have been seen--

_Count._ Ay, ay.--[_Vexed and aside._] The rascal knows what he is about.--[_Privately returns the jewels and angrily whispers_] Here, take your diamonds, and trouble me no more. [_Exit_ Jeweller.

_Front._ [_Entering._] The supper is ready; must it be served?

_Count._ Wait till I call you. Once more, the contract; with your leave, madam, we will read it, that it may be signed.

_Aram._ Signor, while I was a widow the power was my own, but now I am once more married.

_Count._ Married! Who is your husband, Madame!

_Marq._ Good, good, excellent! Yes, signor, 'tis I.

_Count._ [_Aside._] Here is a blow! Oh, all hopes are gone!--[_Aloud._] Then Eleonora--

_Aram._ I love my daughter too much to willingly part with her; once to-day you have refused her hand, which I shall now give to--

_Marq._ Good, good, excellent!--To my son.

_Count._ [_To_ Dorimene _indignantly._] I am derided, sister, disdained.

_Dor._ I warned you, brother, yet you would persist. Be prudent; you are in the presence of many people; do not risk your reputation.

_Count._ [_Aside._] Very true. Come what will, I must dissemble. --[_Aloud._] You're happily come, ladies and gentlemen, to witness the signing of a contract between--the--Chevalier del Bosco and this young lady.--[_Aside._] My tongue is parched; I have not the power to proceed.--[_Aloud._] The honour of contributing to this--ceremony--is mine.--[_Aside._] Oh that the house were on fire!--[_Aloud._] Let us walk into the library till the supper is ready.

_Aram._ Long live the spendthrift!

_Marq._ And down with the miser! [_Exeunt omnes._

THE END OF "THE SPENDTHRIFT MISER."

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE

A small number of obvious spelling mistakes have been corrected. The following additional changes have been made to the text:

In the introduction, the word "Lamoyant" was changed to "Larmoyant" in the context:

It was from the _LARMOYANT_ plays of Diderot and his school (...)

In A CURIOUS MISHAP, act 2, scene 2, the word "with" was added in Philibert's speech:

I will lay a wager it is the servant of the officer WITH whom you are in love.

In THE FAN, act 1, scene 1, the word "ye" was changed to "yet" in the stage direction:

Beats YET louder on his shoe.

In THE FAN, act 2, scene 8, the word "I" was added at the beginning of Candida's speech:

I shall die, but I shall die avenged.

End of Project Gutenberg's The Comedies of Carlo Goldoni, by Carlo Goldoni