_Count [raising his voice_]--Ah! quite right: he asks me to say to you that one Count Almaviva, who was lodging on the great square-- _Bartolo [frightened]_--Speak low, speak low. _Count [louder]_----moved away from there this morning. As it was I who told him that this Count Almaviva-- _Bartolo_--Low, speak lower, I beg of you. _Count [in the same tone_]--Was in this city, and as I have discovered that Señorita Rosina has been writing to him-- _Bartolo_--Has been writing to him? My dear friend, I implore you, _do_ speak low! Come, let's sit down, let's have a friendly chat. You have discovered, you say, that Rosina-- _Count_ [_angrily_]--Certainly. Basilio, anxious about this correspondence on your account, asked me to show you her letter; but the way you take things-- _Bartolo_--Good Lord! I take them well enough. But can't you possibly speak a little lower? _Count_--You told me you were deaf in one ear. _Bartolo_--I beg your pardon, I beg your pardon, if I've been surly and suspicious, Signor Alonzo: I'm surrounded with spies--and then your figure, your age, your whole air--I beg your pardon. Well? Have you the letter? _Count_--I'm glad you're barely civil at last, sir. But are you quite sure no one can overhear us? _Bartolo_--Not a soul. My servants are all tired out. Señorita Rosina has shut herself up in a rage! The very devil's to pay in this house. Still I'll go and make sure. [_He goes to peep into Rosina's room_.] _Count_ [_aside_]--Well, I've caught myself now in my own trap. Now what shall I do about the letter? If I were to run off?--but then I might just as well not have come. Shall I show it to him? If I could only warn Rosina beforehand! To show it would be a master-stroke. _Bartolo_ [_returning on tiptoe_]--She's sitting by the window with her back to the door, and re-reading a cousin's letter which I opened. Now, now--let me see hers. _Count_ [_handing him Rosina's letter_]--Here it is. [_Aside._] She's re-reading _my_ letter. _Bartolo_ [_reads quickly_]--"Since you have told me your name and estate--" Ah, the little traitress! Yes, it's her writing. _Count_ [_frightened_]--Speak low yourself, won't you? _Bartolo_--What for, if you please? _Count_--When we've finished, you can do as you choose. But after all, Don Basilio's negotiation with a lawyer-- _Bartolo_--With a lawyer? About my marriage? _Count_--Would I have stopped you for anything else? He told me to say that all can be ready to-morrow. Then, if she resists-- _Bartolo_--She will. _Count_ [_wants to take back the letter; Bartolo clutches it_]--I'll tell you what we'll do. We will show her her letter; and then, if necessary, [_more mysteriously_] I'll even tell her that it was given to me by a woman--to whom the Count is sacrificing her. Shame and rage may bring her to terms on the spot.