Truly I am at a loss for thanks. I had long renounced the hope of being noticed by the Prince. MARINELLI. I am sure he only waited for a proper opportunity, and if the present mission be not sufficiently worthy of Count Appiani, I own my friendship has been too precipitate. APPIANI. Friendship, friendship! every third word. With whom am I speaking? The Marquis Marinelli's friendship I never dreamt of gaining. MARINELLI. I acknowledge my fault, Count Appiani, my unpardonable fault in wishing to be your friend without your permission. But what of that? The favour of his Highness, and the dignity he offers, remain the same. I do not doubt you will accept them with pleasure. APPIANI (_after some consideration_). Undoubtedly. MARINELLI. Come, then, with me. APPIANI. Whither? MARINELLI. To the Prince's palace at Dosalo. All is ready. You must depart to-day. APPIANI. What say you? To-day? MARINELLI. Yes. Rather now than an hour hence. The business presses. APPIANI. Indeed! Then I am sorry I must decline the honour which the Prince intended to confer upon me. MARINELLI. How? APPIANI. I cannot depart to-day,--nor to-morrow--nor the next day. MARINELLI. You are jesting, Count. APPIANI. With you? MARINELLI. Incomparable! If with the Prince, the joke is so much the merrier.--You cannot? APPIANI. No, my lord, no--and I trust that the Prince himself will think my excuse sufficient. MARINELLI. I am eager to hear it. APPIANI. Oh, it is a mere trifle. I mean to be married to-day. MARINELLI. Indeed!--and what then? APPIANI. And what then?--Your question shows a cursed simplicity! MARINELLI. There are examples, Count, of marriages having been deferred. I do not mean to infer that the delay was pleasant to the bride and bridegroom. To them it was, no doubt, a trial, yet the sovereign's command---- APPIANI. Sovereign's command? A sovereign of my own option, I am not so strictly bound to obey. I admit that you owe the Prince absolute obedience, but not I. I came to his court a volunteer. I wished to enjoy the honour of serving him, but not of being his slave. I am the vassal of a greater sovereign. MARINELLI. Greater or smaller, a monarch is a monarch. APPIANI.