ros)
He is fooling us! If he were in earnest he would not talk thus.

Quinola
I suppose you won't give me the two thousand doubloons in gold until
after the treaty has been signed.

Sarpi (with eagerness)
You can have it before.

Quinola
You don't mean it! (Holding out his hand) Give it me then.

Avaloros
As soon as you sign notes of hand for the amounts which have already
matured.

Quinola
The Grand Turk himself never offered the bowstring with greater
delicacy.

Sarpi
Has your master got his ship?

Quinola
Valladolid is at some distance from this, I admit; but we control in
that city a pen which has the power of decreeing your disgrace.

Sarpi
I will grind you to powder.

Quinola
I will make myself so small that you can't do it.

Avaloros
Ah! you scoundrel, what do you propose to do?

Quinola
To talk to you about the gold.

SCENE FOURTH

The same persons, Faustine and Paquita.

Paquita
Gentlemen, here is the senora. (Exit.)

SCENE FIFTH

The same persons, with the exception of Paquita.

Quinola (approaching the Brancadori)
Senora, my master talks of killing himself unless he can obtain the
ship which Count Sarpi has refused for thirty days to give him; Senor
Avaloros asks for his life while offering him his purse; do you
understand? (Aside) A woman was our salvation at Valladolid; the women
shall be our salvation at Barcelona. (Aloud) He is very despondent.

Avaloros
The wretched man seems daring enough.

Quinola
Daring without money is naturally amazing to you.

Sarpi (to Quinola)
Will you enter my service?

Quinola
I am too set in my ways to take a master.

Faustine (aside)
He is despondent! (Aloud) Why is it that men like you, Sarpi and
Avaloros, for whom I have done so much, should persecute, instead of
protecting, the poor man of genius who has so lately arrived among us?
(Avaloros and Sarpi are confused.) I cry shame upon you! (To Quinola)
You must explain to me exactly their schemes against your master.

Sarpi (to Faustine)
My dear cousin, it does to need much penetration to divine what malady
it is under which you have labored since the arrival of this
Fontanares.

Avaloros (to Faustine)
You owe me, senora, two thousand doubloons, and you will need to draw
still further on my purse.

Faustine
I? What have I ever asked of you?

Avaloros
Nothing, but you never refuse anything which I am generous