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（To Luiz。） Where are the halberdiers who were to have had the
honour of meeting us here； that our visit to the Grand Inquisitor
might be made in becoming state？
LUIZ。 Your Grace； the halberdiers are mercenary people who
stipulated for a trifle on account。
DUKE。 How tiresome！ Well； let us hope the Grand Inquisitor
is a blind gentleman。 And the band who were to have had the
honour of escorting us？ I see no band！
LUIZ。 Your Grace； the band are sordid persons who required
to be paid in advance。
DUCH。 That's so like a band！
DUKE （annoyed）。 Insuperable difficulties meet me at every
turn！
DUCH。 But surely they know His Grace？
LUIZ。 Exactlythey know His Grace。
DUKE。 Well； let us hope that the Grand Inquisitor is a deaf
gentleman。 A cornet…a…piston would be something。 You do not
happen to possess the accomplishment of tootling like a
cornet…a…piston？
LUIZ。 Alas； no； Your Grace！ But I can imitate a farmyard。
DUKE （doubtfully）。 I don't see how that would help us。 I
don't see how we could bring it in。
CAS。 It would not help us in the least。 We are not a
parcel of graziers come to market； dolt！
（Luiz
rises。）
DUKE。 My love； our suite's feelings！ （To Luiz。） Be so
good as to ring the bell and inform the Grand Inquisitor that his
Grace the Duke of Plaza…Toro； Count Matadoro； Baron Picadoro
DUCH。 And suite
DUKE。 And suitehave arrived at Venice； and seek
CAS。 Desire
DUCH。 Demand！
DUKE。 And demand an audience。
LUIZ。 Your Grace has but to command。
DUKE （much moved）。 I felt sure of itI felt sure of it！
（Exit Luiz into Ducal Palace。） And now； my love（aside to
Duchess） Shall we tell her？ I think so（aloud to Casilda） And
now； my love； prepare for a magnificent surprise。 It is my
agreeable duty to reveal to you a secret which should make you
the happiest young lady in Venice！
CAS。 A secret？
DUCH。 A secret which； for State reasons； it has been
necessary to preserve for twenty years。
DUKE。 When you were a prattling babe of six months old you
were married by proxy to no less a personage than the infant son
and heir of His Majesty the immeasurably wealthy King of
Barataria！
CAS。 Married to the infant son of the King of Barataria？
Was I consulted？ （Duke shakes his head。） Then it was a most
unpardonable liberty！
DUKE。 Consider his extreme youth and forgive him。 Shortly
after the ceremony that misguided monarch abandoned the creed of
his forefathers； and became a Wesleyan Methodist of the most
bigoted and persecuting type。 The Grand Inquisitor； determined
that the innovation should not be perpetuated in Barataria；
caused your smiling and unconscious husband to be stolen and
conveyed to Venice。 A fortnight since the Methodist Monarch and
all his Wesleyan Court were killed in an insurrection； and we are
here to ascertain the whereabouts of your husband； and to hail
you； our daughter； as Her Majesty； the reigning Queen of
Barataria！ （Kneels。）
（During this speech Luiz re…enters。）
DUCH。 Your Majesty！ （Kneels。） （Drum roll。）
DUKE。 It is at such moments as these that one feels how
necessary it is to travel with a full band。
CAS。 I； the Queen of Barataria！ But I've nothing to wear！
We are practically penniless！
DUKE。 That point has not escaped me。 Although I am
unhappily in straitened circumstances at present； my social
influence is something enormous； and a Company； to be called the
Duke of Plaza…Toro； Limited； is in course of formation to work
me。 An influential directorate has been secured； and I shall
myself join the Board after allotment。
CAS。 Am I to understand that the Queen of Barataria may be
called upon at any time to witness her honoured sire in process
of liquidation？
DUCH。 The speculation is not exempt from that drawback。 If
your father should stop； it will； of course； be necessary to wind
him up。
CAS。 But it's so undignifiedit's so degrading！ A Grandee
of Spain turned into a public company！ Such a thing was never
heard of！
DUKE。 My child； the Duke of Plaza…Toro does not follow
fashionshe leads them。 He always leads everybody。 When he was
in the army he led his regiment。 He occasionally led them into
action。 He invariably led them out of it。
SONGDUKE OF PLAZA…TORO。
In enterprise of martial kind；
When there was any fighting；
He led his regiment from behind
He found it less exciting。
But when away his regiment ran；
His place was at the fore； O
That celebrated；
Cultivated；
Underrated
Nobleman；
The Duke of Plaza…Toro！
ALL。 In the first and foremost flight； ha； ha！
You always found that knight； ha； ha！
That celebrated；
Cultivated；
Underrated
Nobleman；
The Duke of Plaza…Toro！
DUKE。 When； to evade Destruction's hand；
To hide they all proceeded；
No soldier in that gallant band
Hid half as well as he did。
He lay concealed throughout the war；
And so preserved his gore； O！
That unaffected；
Undetected；
Well…connected
Warrior；
The Duke of Plaza…Toro！
ALL。 In every doughty deed； ha； ha！
He always took the lead； ha； ha！
That unaffected；
Undetected；
Well…connected
Warrior；
The Duke of Plaza…Toro！
DUKE。 When told that they would all be shot
Unless they left the service；
That hero hesitated not；
So marvellous his nerve is。
He sent his resignation in；
The first of all his corps； O！
That very knowing；
Overflowing；
Easy…going
Paladin；
The Duke of Plaza…Toro！
ALL。 To men of grosser clay； ha； ha！
He always showed the way； ha； ha！
That very knowing；
Overflowing；
Easy…going
Paladin；
The Duke of Plaza…Toro！
（Exeunt Duke and Duchess into Grand Ducal Palace。 As soon as
they have disappeared； Luiz and Casilda rush to each other's
arms。）
RECITATIVE AND DUETCASILDA AND LUIZ。
O rapture； when alone together
Two loving hearts and those that bear them
May join in temporary tether；
Though Fate apart should rudely tear them。
CAS。 Necessity； Invention's mother；
Compelled me to a course of feigning
But； left alone with one another；
I will atone for my disdaining！
AIR
CAS。 Ah； well…beloved；
Mine angry frown
Is but a gown
That serves to dress
My gentleness！
LUIZ。 Ah； well…beloved；
Thy cold disdain；
It gives no pain