The Resources Of Quinola Part 21

Monipodio Your princess has received her letter.

Fontanares What kind of a man is this Don Ramon?

Monipodio He is an a.s.s.

Quinola Is he envious?

Monipodio As three rejected play-writers. He makes himself out to be a wonderful man.

Quinola But does any one believe him?

Monipodio They look upon him as an oracle. He scribbles off his treatises, explaining that the snow is white because it falls from heaven, and he maintains, in contradiction to Galileo, that the earth does not move.

Quinola Do you not plainly see, senor, that I must rid you of this philosopher? (To Monipodio) You come with me; you must be my servant.

(Exeunt.)

SCENE SEVENTH

Fontanares (alone) What brain, even though it be encased in bronze, could stand the strain of this search after money, while also making an inquiry into the most jealously guarded secrets of nature? How can the mind, engaged in such quests, have time for distrusting men, fighting them, and combining others against them? It is no easy thing to see at once what course had best be taken, in order to prevent Don Ramon from stealing my glory, and Don Ramons abound on every side. I at last dare to avow that my endurance is exhausted.

SCENE EIGHTH

Fontanares, Esteban, Girone and two workmen.

Esteban Can any of you tell me where a person named Fontanares is hiding himself?

Fontanares He is not hiding himself. I am he; he is merely meditating in silence.

(Aside) Where is Quinola? He would know how to send them away satisfied. (Aloud) What do you want?

Esteban We want our money! We have been working without wages for three weeks; the laborer lives from day to day.

Fontanares Alas, my friends, I do not live at all!

Esteban You are alone; you can pinch your belly. But we have wives and children. At the present moment we have p.a.w.ned everything.

Fontanares Have confidence in me.

Esteban Can we pay the baker with this confidence in you?

Fontanares I am a man of honor.

Girone Hark you! We also are men of honor.

Esteban Take the honor of each of us to the Lombard and you will see how much he will lend you on it.

Girone I am not a man of talent, not I, and no one will give me trust.

Esteban I am nothing but a villainous workman, but if my wife needs an iron pot, I pay for it, by heaven!

Fontanares I would like to know who it is has set you on me in this way?

Girone Set us on? Are we dogs?

Esteban The magistrates of Barcelona have given judgment in favor of Masters Coppolus and Carpano, and have granted them a lien on your inventions; pray tell us, where is our lien?

Girone I shan't go away from this place without my money.

Fontanares Can you find any money by staying here? However, here you may remain.

Good-day. (He takes up his hat and cloak.)

Esteban No! You won't go out without paying us.

(The workmen prepare to bar the door.)

Girone There is a piece which I forged myself; I am going to keep it.

Fontanares What! You wretch! (He draws his sword.)

The Workmen You will not make us budge.

Fontanares (rus.h.i.+ng upon them) Here is for you! (He stops short and throws away his sword.) Perhaps these fellows have been sent by Avaloros and Sarpi to push me to extremes. If they succeeded I might be accused of murder and thrown into prison for years. (He kneels down before the Madonna.) Oh, my G.o.d! Are genius and crime the same thing in Thy sight? What have I done to suffer such defeats, such insults and such outrages? Must I pay for my triumph in advance? (To the workmen) Every Spaniard is master in his own house.

Esteban You have no house. This place is the Golden Sun; the landlord has told us so.

Girone You haven't paid for your lodging; you pay for nothing.

Fontanares Remain where you are, my masters, I was wrong; I am in debt.

SCENE NINTH

The same persons, Coppolus and Carpano.

Coppolus Senor, I come to tell you that the magistrates of Barcelona have granted me a lien on your machine, and I shall take measures that no part of it leaves this place. My confrere, Carpano, your locksmith, shares my claim.

Fontanares What devil is blinding you? Without me, this machine is nothing but so much iron, steel, copper and wood; with me, it represents a fortune.

Coppolus We are not going to leave you.

(The two merchants make a movement as if to hem in Fontanares.)

Fontanares What friend embraces you so closely as a creditor? Well, well, I wish the devil would take back the great thought he gave me.