our service.

Quinola
Do I see here, my son, that famous invention about which Venice is so
excited? Where is the plan, the elevation, the section, the working
drawings of the machine?

Coppolus (to Carpano)
He knows all about it, but we must get further information before
advancing anything.

Quinola
You are an amazing man, my son! Like Columbus, you will yet have your
day. (He kneels.) I thank God for the honor He had done our family.
(To the merchants) Two hours from this I will pay you.

(Exeunt Coppolus and Carpano.)

SCENE TWELFTH

Quinola, Fontanares and Monipodio.

Fontanares
What will be the result of this imposture?

Quinola
You were tottering on the brink of an abyss, and I rescued you.

Monipodio
It was well impersonated! But the Venetians have abundance of money,
and in order to obtain three months' credit, we must throw dust into
the eyes of the creditors, and this is the most expensive kind of
dust.

Quinola
Didn't I tell you that there was a treasure coming? Well it's here
now.

Monipodio
Coming of its own accord?

(Quinola assents with a nod.)

Fontanares
His effrontery terrifies me.

SCENE THIRTEENTH

The same persons, Mathieu Magis and Don Ramon.

Mathieu Magis
I have brought Don Ramon to you, for I wish to do nothing without his
sanction.

Don Ramon (to Fontanares)
Senor, I am delighted at this opportunity of sharing the work of so
eminent a man of science. We two will be enabled to bring your
invention to the highest perfection.

Quinola
Senor knows mechanics, ballistics, mathematics, dioptrics, catoptrics,
statistics?

Don Ramon
Indeed I do. I have purchased many valuable treatises.

Quinola
In Latin?

Don Ramon
No, in Spanish.

Quinola
No true philosopher, senor, writes in anything but Latin. There is a
danger that science may be vulgarized. Do you know Latin?

Don Ramon
Yes, senor.

Quinola
So much the better for you.

Fontanares
Senor, I respect the name which you have made; but I cannot accept
your offer, because of the dangers attendant on my enterprise; I am
risking my head in this work and yours is too precious to be exposed.

Don Ramon
Do you think, senor, that you can afford to slight Don Ramon, the
great scientific authority?

Quinola
Don Ramon! The famous Don Ramon, who has expounded the causes of so
many natural phenomena, which hitherto had been thought to happen
with