The Apothecary's House
Hardly has Sempronio discovered that Grilletta and Mengone are in
love than Volpino returns to ask him for Grilletta's hand. He furiously
refuses his permission. In view of Volpino's implied threat that he
will win her anyway, and the fact that he suspects his ward of leading
on all these penniless adventurers, Sempronio decides to hasten his
plans to marry her himself. Meanwhile, the two lovers have fallen
out over Mengone's timidity in telling his master that they plan to
marry and Grilletta determines to take her revenge by marrying the
first man who asks her. She is horrified when this turns out to be
her guardian, whilst her guardian can scarcely believe his luck.
