Mme. Deschap. How coarse you are, cousin Damas!--quite the manners of a barrack--you don't deserve to be one of our family; really we must drop your acquaintance when Pauline marries. I cannot patronize any relations that would discredit my future son-in-law, the Prince of Como. Mel. [advancing]. These are beautiful gardens, madame, [BEAUSEANT and GLAVIS retire]--who planned them? Mme. Deschap. A gardener named Melnotte, your highness--an honest man who knew his station. I can't say as much for his son--a presuming fellow, who,--ha! ha! actually wrote verses--such doggerel!--to my daughter. Pauline. Yes, how you would have laughed at them, Prince! you, who write such beautiful verses! Mel. This Melnotte must be a monstrous impudent person! Damas. Is he good-looking? Mme. Deschap. I never notice such canaille--an ugly, mean-looking clown, if I remember right. Damas. Yet I heard your porter say he was wonderfully like his highness. Mel. [taking snuff]. You are complimentary. Mme. Deschap. For shame, cousin Damas!--like the Prince, indeed! Pauline. Like you! Ah, mother, like our beautiful prince! I'll never speak to you again, cousin Damas. Mel. [aside]. Humph!--rank is a great beautifier! I never passed for an Apollo while I was a peasant; if I am so handsome as a prince, what should I be as an emperor! [Aloud.] Monsieur Beauseant, will you honor me? [Offers snuff. Beau. No, your highness; I have no small vices. Mel. Nay, if it were a vice, you'd be sure to have it, Monsieur Beauseant. Mme. Deschap. Ha! ha!--how very severe!--what wit! Beau. [in a rage and aside]. Curse his impertinence! Mme. Deschap. What a superb snuff-box! Pauline. And what a beautiful ring! Mel. You like the box--a trifle--interesting perhaps from associations-- a present from Louis XIV. to my great-great grandmother. Honor me by--accepting it. Beau. plucking him by the sleeve. How!--what the devil! My box--are you mad? It is worth five hundred louis. Mel. [unheeding him, and turning to PAULINE]. And you like this ring? Ah, it has, indeed a lustre since your eyes have shone on it placing it on her finger. Henceforth hold me, sweet enchantress, the Slave of the Ring. Gla. [pulling him]. Stay, stay--what are you about? My maiden aunt's legacy--a diamond of the first water. You shall be hanged for swindling, sir. Mel. [pretending not to hear]. It is curious, this ring; it is the one with which my grandfather, the Doge of Venice, married the Adriatic! (Madame and PAULINE examine the ring.) Mel. [to BEAUSEANT and GLAVIS]. Fie, gentlemen! princes must be generous?--[Turns to DAMAS, who watches them closely.] These kind friends have my interest so much at heart, that they are as careful of my property as if it were their own! Beau and Gla. [confusedly]. Ha! ha!--very good joke that! [Appears to remonstrate with MELNOTTE in dumb show.