The Resources Of Quinola Part 20

Quinola Yes, and if she brings forth young they will eat up Catalonia.

Mathieu Magis I have heavy expenses.

Fontanares You see how I live.

Mathieu Magis Ah! If I were rich, I would lend you (Quinola holds out his hands) the wherewith to live better.

Fontanares Wait fifteen days longer.

Mathieu Magis (aside) This cuts me to the heart. If the matter concerned only myself I would perhaps let it go, but I must earn what has been promised me, which is to be my daughter's dowry. (Aloud) Now really, I have a great regard for you, you please me immensely--

Quinola (aside) To think that it would be a crime to strangle him!

Fontanares You are of iron; I shall show myself as hard as steel.

Mathieu Magis What do you mean, senor?

Fontanares You shall help me, whether you would or not.

Mathieu Magis I will not! I want my capital! And would think nothing of seizing and selling all this iron work.

Fontanares You compel me to meet trick with trick. I was proceeding with my work honestly! Now, if necessary, following your example, I shall leave the straight path. I shall be of course accused, as if perfection could be expected of me. But I do not mind calumny. But to have this cup to drink is too much. You made a senseless contract with me, you now shall sign another, or you will see me dash my work to fragments, and keep my secret buried here. (He strikes his hand on his heart.)

Mathieu Magis Ah! senor, you will not do that. That would be theft, a piece of rascality of which a great man is incapable.

Fontanares You seize upon my integrity as a weapon by which you would insure the success of monstrous injustice.

Mathieu Magis Listen, I wish to have nothing to do with this matter, and if you will come to an understanding with Don Ramon, a most excellent man, I will yield all my rights to him.

Fontanares Don Ramon?

Quinola Yes, the philosopher whom all Barcelona sets up in opposition to you.

Fontanares After all, I have solved the last problem, and glory and fortune will attend the future current of my life.

Quinola Your words seem to indicate that there is still a part to be supplied in the machinery.

Fontanares A trifle--a matter of some hundred ducats.

Mathieu Magis Such a sum could not be raised from all that you have here, if it were sold by authority of government, counting the costs.

Quinola Carrion! Will you get out?

Mathieu Magis If you humor Don Ramon, he doubtless will be willing to give you the a.s.sistance of his credit. (Turns to Quinola) As for you, gallows-bird, if ever you fall into my hands, I will get even with you. (To Fontanares) Good-bye, man of genius. (Exit.)

SCENE FIFTH

Fontanares and Quinola.

Fontanares His words make me shudder.

Quinola And me also! The good ideas of a genius are always caught in the webs of such spiders as he.

Fontanares Well, if only we can get a hundred ducats more, from that time forth we shall have a golden life filled with the banquets of love. (He takes a drink of water.)

Quinola I quite believe you, but confess that blooming hope, that heavenly jade, has led us on pretty deep into the mire.

Fontanares Quinola!

Quinola I do not complain for myself, I was born to trouble. The question is, how are we to get the hundred ducats. You are in debt to the workmen, to the master locksmith Carpano, to Coppolus the dealer in iron, steel and copper, and to our landlord, who after taking us in, more from fear of Monipodio than from compa.s.sion, will end by turning us out of doors; we owe him for nine months' board and lodging.

Fontanares But the work is all but finished.

Quinola But what of the hundred ducats?

Fontanares How is it that you, usually so brave and merry, begin now to speak to me in such a dolorous tone?

Quinola It is because, as a means of remaining at your side, I shall be obliged to disappear.

Fontanares And why?

Quinola Why? Pray what are we to do about the sheriff? I have incurred, for you and for myself, trade debts to the amount of a hundred doubloons; and lo! these debts take, to my mind, the figure, face and feet of tipstaves!

Fontanares How much unhappiness is comprised in the term _glory_!

Quinola Come! Do not be downcast. Did you not tell me that your grandfather went, some fifty years ago, with Cortez, to Mexico; has he ever been heard of?

Fontanares Never.

Quinola Don't forget you have a grandfather! You will be enabled to continue your work, until you reach the day of your triumph.

Fontanares Do you wish to ruin me?

Quinola Do you wish to see me go to prison and your machine to the devil?

Fontanares I do not.

Quinola Permit me then to bring about the return of this grandfather? He will be the first of his company to return from the West Indies.

SCENE SIXTH

The same persons and Monipodio.

Quinola How goes it?