To speak more intelligibly. When I undertook the business, Emilia knew nothing of the Prince's attachment. Her mother just as little. How if I formed my foundation upon this circumstance, and in the meantime the Prince was undermining my edifice? PRINCE (_striking his forehead_). Damnation! MARINELLI. How, if he himself betrayed his intentions? PRINCE. Cursed interposition! MARINELLI. For had he not so behaved himself I should like to know what part of my plan could have raised the least suspicion in the mind of the mother or the daughter? PRINCE. You are right. MARINELLI. And therein I certainly am very wrong.--Pardon me. Scene II. Battista, The Prince, Marinelli. _Enter_ BATTISTA (_hastily_). The Countess is arrived. PRINCE. The Countess? What Countess? BATTISTA. Orsina! PRINCE. Orsina? Marinelli! MARINELLI. I am as much astonished as yourself. PRINCE (_to_ Battista). Go--run--Battista. She must not alight. I am not here--not here to her. She must return this instant. Go, go. (_Exit_ Battista). What does the silly woman want? How dares she take this liberty? How could she know that we were here? Is she come as a spy? Can she have heard anything? Oh, Marinelli, speak, answer me. Is the man offended, who vows he is my friend--offended by a paltry altercation? Shall I beg pardon? MARINELLI. Prince, as soon as you recover yourself, I am yours again, with my whole soul. The arrival of Orsina is as much an enigma to me as to you. But she will not be denied. What will you do? PRINCE. I will not speak to her. I will withdraw. MARINELLI. Right! Do so instantly; I will receive her. PRINCE. But merely to dismiss her. No more. We have other business to perform. MARINELLI. Not so, not so. Our other things are done. Summon up resolution and all deficiencies will be supplied. But do I not hear her? Hasten, Prince. In that room (_pointing to an adjoining apartment, to which the_ Prince _retires_)--you may, if you please, listen to our conversation. She comes, I fear, at an unpropitious moment for her. Scene III. The Countess Orsina, Marinelli. ORSINA (_without perceiving_ Marinelli).