uch agitated. In the name of our common salvation, control
yourself; you will attract attention.

The Marchioness
Has that man come back?

The Captain
Now, how can a man of such base condition as he is throw you into such
terror?

The Marchioness
He holds my life in his hands; more than my life, indeed; for he holds
in his power the life also of another, who, in spite of the most
scrupulous precautions, cannot avoid exciting the jealousy--

The Captain
Of the king!--Did he cause the assassination of the Duke of Olmedo, as
is rumored?

The Marchioness
Alas! I do not know what to think.--Here I am alone, helpless--and
perhaps soon to be abandoned.

The Captain
You may rely upon me--I shall constantly be in the midst of all our
enemies like a hunter on the watch.

SCENE SIXTH

The same persons and Quinola.

Quinola
I have only thirty doubloons left, but I have had the worth of sixty.
--Ah! what a lovely scent! The marchioness can now talk to me without
fear.

The Marchioness (pointing out Quinola)
Is this our man?

The Captain
Yes.

The Marchioness
Keep watch, my cousin, so that I may be able to talk without being
overheard. (To Quinola) Who are you, my friend?

Quinola (aside)
Her friend! As soon as you have a woman's secret, you are her friend.
(Aloud) Madame, I am a man superior to all considerations and all
circumstances.

The Marchioness
You have reached a pretty good height, at any rate.

Quinola
Is that a threat or a warning?

The Marchioness
Sir, you are very impertinent.

Quinola
Do not mistake farsightedness for impertinence. You must study me,
before coming to a decision. I am going to describe my character to
you; my real name is Lavradi. At the moment Lavradi ought to be
serving a ten years' sentence in Africa, at the presides, owing to an
error of the alcaldes of Barcelona. Quinola is the conscience, white
as your fair hands, of Lavradi. Quinola does to know Lavradi. Does the
soul know the body? You may unite the soul, Quinola, to the body,
Lavradi, all the more easily because this morning Quinola was at the
postern of your garden, with the friends of the dawn who stopped the
Duke of Olmedo--

The Marchioness
What has happened to him?

Quinola
Lavradi would take advantage of this moment, which is full of promise,
to ask a pardon; but Quinola is a gentleman.

The Marchioness
You are taken up too much with yourself--

Quinola
And not