SCENE FOURTH

The same persons and Quinola.

Quinola (aside to Fontanares)
Senor, the fruit was too fair, and a worm has been found in it!

Fontanares
What do you mean?

Quinola
Hell has belched back upon us, I know not how--Monipodio, all on fire
for revenge; he is on board the ship with a band of devils, and swears
to scuttle it, unless you guarantee him ten thousand sequins.

Fontanares (kneels)
Thanks, thanks for that. O ocean, whom I once longed to subdue, thou
art the sole protector that is left to me; thou shalt keep my secret
to eternity! (To Quinola) See that Monipodio steers for the open sea
and there scuttles the ship.

Quinola
What is this? Do I understand you aright? Which of us two has lost his
head?

Fontanares
Do as I bid you.

Quinola
But, my dear master--

Fontanares
My life and yours are equally at stake.

Quinola
Obey, without understanding why? For the first time I'll risk it.
(Exit.)

SCENE FIFTH

The same persons, with the exception of Quinola.

Fontanares (to Don Fregose)
My lord! Putting aside the question of priority, which can easily be
decided, may I be permitted to withdraw my name from this debate,
begging of you to accept the statement which is here drawn up and
contains the justification before the king our master?

Don Ramon
You acknowledge then my claim?

Fontanares
I will acknowledge anything you like, even to the point that O plus O
is a binomial!

Don Fregose (after consulting with the Grand Inquisitor)
Your demand is perfectly legitimate; we will forward a copy of your
statement, preserving here the original.

Fontanares
I have, then, escaped with my life. Let me ask all of you here
present, if you look upon Don Ramon as the real inventor of the vessel
which has been propelled by steam before the eyes of two hundred
thousand Spaniards?

All
We do.

(Quinola makes his appearance.)

Fontanares
Very good. Don Ramon has accomplished this prodigy. Don Ramon can
begin his work again. (A loud explosion is heard.) The prodigy is no
longer in existence. The employment of such a force is not without
danger, and the danger which Don Ramon had not foreseen, has
manifested itself, at the very moment while Don Ramon was receiving
your congratulations! (Cries in the distance; everybody rushes to the
balcony and gazes seaward.) I am avenged!

Don Fregose
What will the king say?

The Grand Inquisitor