Geltrude _from the villa. The above._
_Geltrude._ [_Gravely._] Is your brother returned?
_Nina._ [_Ungraciously, and turning away._] Yes, he is.
_Geltrude._ [_As above._] Has Signor Evarist returned also?
_Nina._ [_As above._] Yes, he has.
_Geltrude._ Do you know where he is?
_Nina._ [_With annoyance._] I know nothing! Good day. [_Enters the
house._]
_Geltrude._ What manners!--Crispino!
_Crispino._ [_Rises._] Madame?
_Geltrude._ Do you know where to find Signor Evarist?
_Crispino._ No, Madame, in truth I do not.
_Geltrude._ Do me the favour to go and see if he is in the inn.
_Crispino._ Certainly. [_Goes towards the inn._]
_Susanna._ [_Softly._] Signora Geltrude!
_Geltrude._ What would you?
_Susanna._ One word.
_Geltrude._ Do you know nothing about Signor Evarist?
_Susanna._ Ah, Madame, I know many things. I have many things to tell
you.
_Geltrude._ Alas! I too have much to disquiet me; I have seen letters
that surprise me! Speak, enlighten me if you can.
_Susanna._ But here, in public! Shall I not come to your house?
_Geltrude._ I first want to see Signor Evarist.
_Susanna._ Will you then step into my shop?
_Geltrude._ Yes, rather let us do that. But first let us await Signor
Evarist.
_Susanna._ There he is!
_Crispino._ [_From the inn._] He is not there. They expected him to
dinner, and he has not come.
_Geltrude._ Yet he must have come back from shooting.
_Crispino._ Oh yes, he came back; I saw him.
_Geltrude._ Where can he be?
_Susanna._ He is not at the cafe either.
_Crispino._ Nor at the apothecary's.
_Geltrude._ Let us search a little. The village is not so large. Look
about, we must discover him.
_Crispino._ I will set off at once!
_Geltrude._ If you find him, tell him I want much to speak to him, and
that I wait for him in Susanna's shop.
[Crispino _goes._]
_Geltrude._ [_Enters_ Susanna's _shop._] Now I am ready and anxious to
hear you.
_Susanna._ Well, well, you will hear nice things.
_Crispino._ There is something wrong about this Signor Evarist. And then
this fan--I am glad I have got it. Coronato noticed it was gone, I
suppose. He is scarcely likely to suspect me. No one will have told him
that I went to buy some wine. I went just in time. I found the fan a-top
of the barrel. Silly fellow! And while his man filled my flask, I
pocketed the fan! I shall take pretty good care not to confess that I
took it. He is capable of calling me a thief. But where am I to look for
this gentleman? Not at the Count's, for he is dining in there. In the
village? I am sorry I am not enlightened as to Susanna's meaning. But I
will get to the bottom of it. And if I find Nina guilty--Well, and what
shall I do then? Cast her off? I don't know. I love her too much. What
can it all be?