ustine
What right have you to judge my actions?

Lothundiaz
Keep silence, sir; the senora is a high born lady, who has doubled the
value of my palace.

Fontanares
She! Why she is a--

Faustine
Silence!

Lothundiaz
My daughter, this is your man of genius! Extreme in everything, but
leaning rather to madness than good sense. Senor Mechination, the
senora is the cousin and protector of Sarpi.

Fontanares
Well, take your daughter away from the house of the Marchioness of
Mondejar of Catalonia.

(Exeunt Lothundiaz and Marie.)

SCENE SEVENTEENTH

Faustine and Fontanares.

Fontanares
So, senora, your generosity was merely a trick to serve the interests
of Sarpi! We are quits then! And so farewell. (Exit.)

SCENE EIGHTEENTH

Faustine and Paquita.

Faustine
How handsome he looked in his rage, Paquita!

Paquita
Ah! senora, what will become of you if you love him in this way?

Faustine
My child, I feel that I have never loved before, and in an instant I
have been transformed as by a stroke of lightning. In one moment I
have loved for all lost time! Perhaps I have set my foot upon the path
which leads to an abyss. Send one of my servants to the house of
Mathieu Magis, the Lombard.

(Exit Paquita.)

SCENE NINETEENTH

Faustine (alone)
I already love him too much to trust my vengeance to the stiletto of
Monipodio, for he has treated me with such contempt that I must bring
him to believe that the greatest honor he could win would be to have
me for his wife! I wish to see him groveling at my feet, or I will
perish in the attempt to bring him there.

SCENE TWENTIETH

Faustine and Fregose.

Fregose
What is this? I thought to find Fontanares here, happy in the
possession of the ship you gained for him.

Faustine
You have given it to him then, and I suppose hate him no longer. I
thought the sacrifice would be above your strength, and wished to know
if hate were stronger than obedience.

Fregose
Ah! senora--

Faustine
Could you take it back again?

Fregose
Whether obedient or disobedient, I cannot displease you. Good heavens!
Take back the ship! Why, it is crowded with artisans who are its
masters.

Faustine
You never know what I want, and what I do not want.

Fregose
His death?

Faustine
No, but his disgrace.

Fregose
And in that I shall avenge myself for a whole