As the people watch, a boat arrives carrying Annina, a fisher-girl, who is hawking her "fruitti di mare". Pappacoda greets her, hinting that what has really brought her hither is the imminent arrival of the Duke of Urbino, and more particularly his barber Caramello, Annina's sweetheart. "Caramello is a monster, a ne'er-do-well, and a conceited blockhead into the bargain", she pouts. "Stupidity is no hindrance to love", Pappacoda retorts, sampling an oyster. "After all, I'm passionately in love with Ciboletta, Signora Delacqua's pretty cook – a girl as stupid as this oyster, and yet just as appetising, just as worthy of catching!"