1828.] The Plays of Gherardo da Rossi. 505 



An underplot is proceeding all this while, founded upon an, intrigue 

 between the Lady Eugenia and the bullying officer, whom we have 

 before mentioned, and whose jealousy leads eventually to the detection 

 of the Englishman's real rank. The best scenes of the play are those 

 which arrange the frauds which are to be put upon the supposed foreign 

 nobleman. During the whole of the scene just extracted, Count Er- 

 nesto is listening in an anti-room ; and the subsequent quarrel about the 

 division of the four hundred sequins, for which the picture is sold, has 

 considerable merit. The lady says, that it is she who attracts the 

 strangers, and insists upon having two hundred of the sequins out of 

 the four. The Count protests that Rosbif is to have two hundred for 

 his share, and reminds his wife that she may make money enough by 

 taking in the guest at play. They are to carry him to play at a " bank," 

 where a per centage is allowed to " bringers" upon all money won. 

 And, to make the most of the opportunity, the lady is to play in part- 

 nership with Signor Psctth, who will then, in gallantry, be compelled 

 to pay all upon every stake that loses, while she will share whenever 

 they happen to be successful. For the ruin, however, of this, and a 

 variety of other equally ingenious projects, it is decreed that Trivella, 

 the valet de place, whom Rosbif has compelled to refund the money that 

 he had privately cheated the Englishman of on his own account, in 

 revenge, blows up the whole affair. The new lord ascertains that he 

 is being fooled and plundered on all sides, and likely to return to Eng- 

 land, if not a little wiser, at least considerably poorer than he left it. 

 About the same time he receives a letter from his Sandrena, offering to 

 accept an allowance of a hundred guineas a month ; and calculating 

 that his expenses on his visit to Rome will exceed five hundred, he 

 finds that it will be a sparing of money, as well as an improvement in 

 the manner of spending it, to close with the proposal. This resolution, 

 of course, leads rapidly to the termination of the play. A concert is 

 given by the " Marchesa Livia," to which Lord Psctth, at the recom- 

 mendation of the Countess Eugenia, is invited ,-, and he comes, with his 

 friends and his cicerone, Rosbif; a pretty general expectation being ex- 

 . cited of considerable plunder. On his entry, however, from some cause 

 or other, his lordship appears sullen rather, and distrait. He looks 

 grimly ; mutters occasionally to himself; and on being asked by some 

 one " why he talks to himself?" answers, that it is " because he wishes 

 lo speak to a gentleman/' In a moment after, a servant enters and 

 whispers a message. It is, that his horses, for England, are ready at 

 the door ! He then rises, and addresses the company, who are expres- 

 sing their surprize at so short a stay :- 



" Gentlemen, hear me ! I came to Rome to travel, because I thought 

 that that which had pleased my countrymen would please me. In this I was 

 mistaken. Another cause why I left London was, because I hoped to forget 

 a lady whom I desired to part from. In this I have also been mistaken. 

 Since I have been in Rome, I have had to utter falsehoods about my rank : to 

 admire a lady the Countess, who is present^ who is elegant; but whom I 

 don't like so well as those whom I have left behind* I have had to observe a 

 thousand things which did not interest me ; and afterwards to praise, and, 

 what was worse, to buy,- things which pleased me less.- Not to speak of 

 being plundered by a Cicerone Jiere who is an honest man, I dare say, but 

 who has the vice of robbing those who trust him. Now you have hearcj 

 me, therefore, blame me for going back to London, if you can. And good 

 night !" 



M.M. New Series. VoL.V. No. 28. 3 T 



