month of anguish.

Faustine
Take care to keep your hands off what is my prey. And first of all,
Don Fregose, take back your pictures from my gallery. (Don Fregose
shows astonishment). It is my will.

Fregose
You refuse then to be marchioness of--

Faustine
They shall be burned upon the public square or sold, and the price
given to the poor.

Fregose
Tell me, what is your reason for this?

Faustine
I thirst for honor and you have ruined mine.

Fregose
Accept my name and all will be well.

Faustine
Leave me, I pray you.

Fregose
The more power you have, the more you abuse it. (Exit.)

SCENE TWENTY-FIRST

Faustine (alone)
So, so! I am nothing then but the viceroy's mistress! He might as well
have said as much! But with the aid of Avaloros and Sarpi I intend to
have a pretty revenge--one worthy of old Venice.

SCENE TWENTY-SECOND

Faustine and Mathieu Magis.

Mathieu Magis
I am told the senora has need of my poor services.

Faustine
Pray tell me, who are you?

Mathieu Magis
Mathieu Magis, a poor Lombard of Milan, at your service.

Faustine
You lend money?

Mathieu Magis
I lend it on good security--diamonds or gold--a very poor business.
Our losses are overwhelming, senora. And at present money seems
actually to be asleep. The raising of maravedis is the hardest of
farm-labor. One unfortunate deal carries off the profits of ten lucky
strokes, for we risk a thousand doubloons in the hands of a prodigal
for three hundred doubloons profit. The world is very unjust to us.

Faustine
Are you a Jew?

Mathieu Magis
In what sense do you mean?

Faustine
In religion.

Mathieu Magis
I am a Lombard and a Catholic, senora.

Faustine
You disappoint me.

Mathieu Magis
Senora would have wished--

Faustine
I would have wished that you were in the clutches of the Inquisition.

Mathieu Magis
Why so?

Faustine
That I might be certain of your fidelity.

Mathieu Magis
I keep many secrets in my strong box, senora.

Faustine
If I had your fortune in my power--

Mathieu Magis
You would have my soul.

Faustine (aside)
The only way to gain this man's adherence is by appealing to his
self-interest, that is plain. (Aloud) You lend--

Mathieu Magis
At twenty per cent.

Faustine
You don't understand what I mean. Listen; you are lending the use of
your name to Senor Avaloros.

Mathieu Magis
I know Senor Avaloros. He is a banker;