The Resources Of Quinola Part 7

Monipodio It will be almost worth while to make a journey to Compostello. I have the smuggler's faith, and I love wine.

Quinola Are you not still in touch with the coiners of false money, and the skeleton key-makers?

Monipodio Yes--but for the good of the country--

Quinola Well, that's the trick! As my master constructs his machine, I shall take possession of the models of each part and we will make a duplicate--

Monipodio Quinola!

Quinola What now?

(Paquita shows herself on the balcony.)

Monipodio You are the greatest of men!

Quinola I know it. Make a discovery, and you will die persecuted as a criminal; make a copy, and you will live happy as a fool! And on the other hand, if Fontanares should die, why should not I save his invention for the good of humanity?

Monipodio Especially, since we ourselves are humanity, as an old author says.

Let me embrace you.

SCENE SECOND

The same persons and Paquita.

Quinola (aside) Next to an honest dupe, I know nothing better than the self-deluding rascal.

Paquita (to herself) Two friends embrace each other! They cannot therefore be spies.

Quinola You are already in the secrets of the viceroy, you have the confidence of the Brancadori lady. That is a good beginning! Work a miracle and give us some clothes first of all, and if we two, taking counsel with a flask of liquor, do not discover some way by which my master and Marie Lothundiaz may meet, I will not answer for the consequences. For the last two days his constant talk has been of her, and I am afraid he may some day entirely lose his head.

Monipodio The maiden is guarded like a condemned convict. This is the reason: Lothundiaz has had two wives; the first was poor and gave him a son, the second had a fortune, and when she died left all to her daughter, and left it in such a way that she could never be deprived of it. The old man is a miser whose only object is his son's success. Sarpi, the secretary of the viceroy, in order to win the rich heiress, has promised to obtain a t.i.tle for Lothundiaz, and takes vast interest in the son--

Quinola There you are--an enemy at the very outset.

Monipodio We must use great prudence. Listen. I am going to give a hint to Mathieu Magis, the most prominent Lombard in the city, and a man entirely under my influence. You will find everything you need at his palace, from diamonds down to low shoes. When you return here you shall see our young lady. (Exeunt.)

SCENE THIRD

Paquita and Faustine.

Paquita Madame is right; two men are on sentry under her balcony and are going away on seeing the day dawn.

Faustine The old viceroy will end by disgracing me! He suspects me, even at my own house, while I am within sight and hearing of him.

(Exit Paquita.)

SCENE FOURTH

Faustine and Don Fregose.

Don Fregose Madame, you run the risk of catching cold; it is too chilly here.

Faustine Come here, my lord. You tell me, that you have faith in me; but you put Monipodio to watch under my windows. Your behavior is not to be excused like the excessive prudence of a young man, and necessarily exasperates an honest woman. There are two kinds of jealousy: the first makes a man distrust his mistress; the second leads him to lose faith in himself. Confine yourself, if you please, to the second.

Don Fregose Do not end so charming a celebration, senora, by a burst of anger which I do not deserve.

Faustine Was Monipodio, through whom you learn everything that goes on in Barcelona, under my windows last night, or was he not? Answer me on your honor as a gentleman.

Don Fregose He might have been in the neighborhood to prevent our gamesters from being attacked on their way home.

Faustine This is the evasive stratagem of an old general! I must know the truth. If you have deceived me I will never see you again so long as I live!

(She leaves him.)

SCENE FIFTH.

Don Fregose (alone) Oh, why cannot I give up the sight, the voice of this woman! She delights me even in her very anger, and I love to call forth her reproaches, that I may listen to her words.

SCENE SIXTH

Paquita and Monipodio (disguised as a begging friar at the door of the Brancadori Palace).

Paquita Madame told me to learn why Monipodio stationed himself below, but I saw no one there.

Monipodio Alms, my dear child, is a treasure which is laid up in heaven.

Paquita I have nothing to give.

Monipodio Never mind, promise me something.

Paquita This is rather a jovial friar.

Monipodio She does not recognize me and I believe I can run the risk.

(Monipodio knocks at the door of Lothundiaz.)

Paquita Ah! If you count upon the alms of our friend the land-owner, you would be richer with my promise. (To Faustine Brancadori, who appears on the balcony) Madame, the men are gone.