ch--the martyrdom which his
inferiors are preparing for him. Show yourself great, assist him! I
know it will give you pain, but assist him; then I shall believe you
love me, and you will become more illustrious, in my sight at least,
by this act of generosity than by your capture of Mantua.

Fregose
Here, in your presence, I feel capable of anything, but you cannot
dream of the tempest which will fall upon my head, if I obey your
word.

Faustine
Ah! you shrink from obeying me!

Fregose
Protect him, admire him, if you like; but do not love him!

Faustine
The ship given him by the king has been held back; you can restore it
to him, in a moment.

Fregose
And I will send him to give you the thanks.

Faustine
Do it! And learn how much I love you.

(Exit Don Fregose.)

SCENE ELEVENTH

Faustine (alone)
And yet so many women wish that they were men.

SCENE TWELFTH

Faustine, Paquita, Lothundiaz and Marie.

Paquita
Senora, here are Senor Lothundiaz and his daughter. (Exit.)

SCENE THIRTEENTH

The same persons, excepting Paquita.

Lothundiaz
Ah! senora, you have turned my palace into a kingdom!

Faustine (to Marie)
My child, seat yourself by me. (To Lothundiaz) Be seated.

Lothundiaz
You are very kind, senora; but permit me to go and see that famous
gallery, which is spoken of throughout Catalonia.

(Faustine bows assent and Lothundiaz leaves the room.)

SCENE FOURTEENTH

Faustine and Marie.

Faustine
My child, I love you and have learned of the position in which you
stand. Your father wishes you to marry my cousin Sarpi, while you are
in love with Fontanares.

Marie
And have been for five years, senora.

Faustine
At sixteen one knows not what it is to love.

Marie
What does that matter, if I love him?

Faustine
With us, sweet girl, love is but self-devotion.

Marie
I will devote myself to him, senora.

Faustine
What! Would you give him up if that were for his interest?

Marie
That would be to die, but yet my life is wholly his.

Faustine (aside as she rises from her seat)
What strength in weakness and innocence! (Aloud) You have never left
your father's house, you know nothing of the world nor of its
hardships, which are terrible! A man often dies from having met with a
woman who loves him too much, or one who loves him not at all;
Fontanares may find