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The Resources of Quinola, a play by Honore de Balzac |
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Act 1 |
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_ ACT I SCENE FIRST (The scene is Barcelona. The stage represents a public place. On the left of the spectator appear houses, among which that of Lothundiaz stands at the corner of the street. To the right is the palace of Senora Brancadori. The time is night, but the day begins to dawn.) Monipodio (wrapped in a mantle, seated under the balcony of the Brancadori palace), Quinola (who glides forth cautiously like a thief, and brushes against Monipodio).
Quinola. (in ragged array) A gentleman, who does not wear any. Monipodio. That sounds like Lavradi. Quinola. Monipodio!--I thought that you had been--hanged! Monipodio. I thought that you had been beaten to death in Africa. Quinola. Alas, we have been beaten enough without going to Africa! Monipodio. And do you dare to show yourself here? Quinola. You seem comfortable enough here. As for me, I have the king's pardon in my pocket, and while I am waiting for my patent of nobility I call myself Quinola. Monipodio. I suppose you stole your pardon? Quinola. Yes, from the king. Monipodio. And have you seen the king? (He sniffs at him.) You smell of poverty-- Quinola. Like a poet's garret. And what are you doing? Monipodio. Nothing. Quinola. That is soon done; if it gives you any income, I would like to embrace your profession. Monipodio. I have been misunderstood, my friend! Hunted by our political enemies. Quinola. The judges, magistrates and police. Monipodio. It is necessary for a man to have a political party. Quinola. I understand you; from being the game you have become the hunter. Monipodio. What nonsense! I am always myself. I have merely come to an understanding with the viceroy. When one of my fellows has reached the end of his tether, I say to him: "Get off," and if he doesn't go, ah! I hale him to justice--you understand!--That is not treachery is it? Quinola. It is prevision-- Monipodio. And, by the bye, you have just come from court. Quinola. Listen. (Aside) Here is a man, the very one I want, knows everything in Barcelona. (Aloud) After what you have told me we ought to be friends. Monipodio. He who has my secret must be my friend-- Quinola. You are as watchful here as if you were jealous. What is it? Come let us moisten our clay and wet our whistle with a bottle in some tavern; it is daybreak-- Monipodio. Do you see how this palace is lit up for a feast? Don Fregose is dining and gaming at the house of Senora Faustine Brancadori. Quinola. Quite Venetian, Brancadori. 'Tis a rare name! She must be the widow of some patrician. Monipodio. She is twenty-two, subtle as musk, and governs the governor, and, let me tell you between ourselves, has already wheedled out of him all that he picked up under Charles V. in the wars of Italy. What comes from the flute-- Quinola. The air takes. What is the age of the viceroy? Monipodio. He owns up to sixty years. Quinola. And yet they speak of first love! I know of nothing so terrible as last love; it strangles a man. I am happy that I have been brought up so far with unsinged wings! I might be a statesman-- Monipodio. The old general is still young enough to employ me as a spy upon the Brancadori, while she pays me for her liberty; and--you can understand the joyous life I lead by making no mischief! Quinola. Now you want to know all, Old Curiosity, in order to place your thumb upon the throat of opportunity! (Monipodio nods assent.) Is Lothundiaz still alive? Monipodio. Yonder is his house, and this palace belongs to him; always grasping more and more property. Quinola. I had hoped to find the heiress her own mistress. My master is ruined! Monipodio. You bring back a master with you? Quinola. One who will bring me mines of gold. Monipodio. Could not I enter his service? Quinola. I am counting very much upon your co-operation here. Listen, Monipodio; we are going to change the face of the earth. My master has promised the king to make one of his finest vessels move through the water, without sails or oars, in the wind's eyes, more swiftly than the wind itself. Monipodio. (examining Quinola as he walks round him) Something has changed my friend. Quinola. Monipodio, please to remember that men like us must not be astonished at anything. Leave that to smaller people. The king has given us the ship, but without a doubloon to go and get her. We arrived here, therefore, with those two faithful companions of genius, hunger and thirst. A poor man who discovers a valuable idea has always seemed to me like a crumb of bread in a fish-pond; every fish takes a bite at him. We are likely to reach the goal of glory naked and dying. Monipodio. You are probably right. Quinola. One morning at Valladolid, my master was within an ace of divulging his secret to a philosopher who knew nothing of it. I warrant you, I showed that gentleman the door, with a dose of cudgel given with a good will. Monipodio. But how is it possible for us to gain a fortune honestly? Quinola. My master is in love. Now love forces a man to do as many foolish things as wise things. We two have first of all to protect our protector. My master is a philosopher who cannot keep accounts-- Monipodio. Oh! my dear fellow, in choosing a master, you ought to have selected one-- Quinola. Devotion and address count more with him than money; for money and favor to him are mere snares. I know him well; he will either give us or permit us to take enough to end our days in respectability. Monipodio. Ah! that is what I have dreamed of. Quinola. We must then use all our talents, which have been so far wasted, in carrying out this grand enterprise. We should have had a great deal of misfortune if the devil had not favored us. Monipodio. It will be almost worth while to make a journey to Compostello. I have the smuggler's faith, and I love wine. Quinola. Are you not still in touch with the coiners of false money, and the skeleton key-makers? Monipodio. Yes--but for the good of the country-- Quinola. Well, that's the trick! As my master constructs his machine, I shall take possession of the models of each part and we will make a duplicate-- Monipodio. Quinola! Quinola. What now? (Paquita shows herself on the balcony.) Monipodio. You are the greatest of men! Quinola. I know it. Make a discovery, and you will die persecuted as a criminal; make a copy, and you will live happy as a fool! And on the other hand, if Fontanares should die, why should not I save his invention for the good of humanity? Monipodio. Especially, since we ourselves are humanity, as an old author says. Let me embrace you.
SCENE SECOND [The same persons and Paquita.]
Paquita. (to herself) Two friends embrace each other! They cannot therefore be spies. Quinola. You are already in the secrets of the viceroy, you have the confidence of the Brancadori lady. That is a good beginning! Work a miracle and give us some clothes first of all, and if we two, taking counsel with a flask of liquor, do not discover some way by which my master and Marie Lothundiaz may meet, I will not answer for the consequences. For the last two days his constant talk has been of her, and I am afraid he may some day entirely lose his head. Monipodio. The maiden is guarded like a condemned convict. This is the reason: Lothundiaz has had two wives; the first was poor and gave him a son, the second had a fortune, and when she died left all to her daughter, and left it in such a way that she could never be deprived of it. The old man is a miser whose only object is his son's success. Sarpi, the secretary of the viceroy, in order to win the rich heiress, has promised to obtain a title for Lothundiaz, and takes vast interest in the son-- Quinola. There you are--an enemy at the very outset. Monipodio. We must use great prudence. Listen. I am going to give a hint to Mathieu Magis, the most prominent Lombard in the city, and a man entirely under my influence. You will find everything you need at his palace, from diamonds down to low shoes. When you return here you shall see our young lady. (Exeunt.)
[Paquita and Faustine.]
Faustine. The old viceroy will end by disgracing me! He suspects me, even at my own house, while I am within sight and hearing of him. (Exit Paquita.)
SCENE FOURTH [Faustine and Don Fregose.]
Faustine. Come here, my lord. You tell me, that you have faith in me; but you put Monipodio to watch under my windows. Your behavior is not to be excused like the excessive prudence of a young man, and necessarily exasperates an honest woman. There are two kinds of jealousy: the first makes a man distrust his mistress; the second leads him to lose faith in himself. Confine yourself, if you please, to the second. Don Fregose. Do not end so charming a celebration, senora, by a burst of anger which I do not deserve. Faustine. Was Monipodio, through whom you learn everything that goes on in Barcelona, under my windows last night, or was he not? Answer me on your honor as a gentleman. Don Fregose. He might have been in the neighborhood to prevent our gamesters from being attacked on their way home. Faustine. This is the evasive stratagem of an old general! I must know the truth. If you have deceived me I will never see you again so long as I live! (She leaves him.)
SCENE FIFTH Don Fregose. (alone) Oh, why cannot I give up the sight, the voice of this woman! She delights me even in her very anger, and I love to call forth her reproaches, that I may listen to her words.
SCENE SIXTH Paquita. and Monipodio (disguised as a begging friar at the door of the Brancadori Palace).
Monipodio. Alms, my dear child, is a treasure which is laid up in heaven. Paquita. I have nothing to give. Monipodio. Never mind, promise me something. Paquita. This is rather a jovial friar. Monipodio. She does not recognize me and I believe I can run the risk. (Monipodio knocks at the door of Lothundiaz.) Paquita. Ah! If you count upon the alms of our friend the land-owner, you would be richer with my promise. (To Faustine Brancadori, who appears on the balcony) Madame, the men are gone.
SCENE SEVENTH [Monipodio and Dona Lopez (at the door of the Lothundiaz Mansion.)
Monipodio. The brothers of our order have received tidings of your dear Lopez-- Dona Lopez. That he was living? Monipodio. As you conduct the Senorita Marie to the convent of the Dominicans, take a turn round the square; you will meet there an escaped Algerian captive, who will tell you about Lopez. Dona Lopez. Merciful heavens! Would that I could ransom him! Monipodio. Be careful, first of all, when you approach on that subject; suppose that he were a Mussulman? Dona Lopez. Dear Lopez! I must go and prepare the senorita for her journey. (Dona Lopez re-enters the house.)
SCENE EIGHTH [Monipodio, Quinola and Fontanares.]
Quinola. Yes, but where is Monipodio? Has he allowed himself to be beaten off? (He turns to the friar) Sir Beggar? Monipodio. All goes well. Quinola. Sangodemy! What perfection of mendicancy! Titian ought to paint you. (To Fontanares) She will come. (To Monipodio) How do you find things? Monipodio. Most favorable. Quinola. He shall be a grandee of Spain. Monipodio. Oh! That is nothing. There is something still better than that! Quinola. (to Fontanares) Now, sir, you must above all things be prudent. Let us have no sighing, which might open the eyes of the duenna.
SCENE NINTH [The same persons, Dona Lopez and Marie.]
Quinola. (speaking to the duenna) Ah! madame, I recognize you from the portrait of your charms which Senor Lorenzo drew for me. (He takes her aside.)
SCENE TENTH [Monipodio, Marie and Fontanares.]
Fontanares. Yes, Marie, I have so far succeeded; our happiness is assured. Marie. Ah! If you only knew how I have prayed for your success! Fontanares. I have millions of things to say to you; but there is one thing which I ought to say a million times, to make up for all the weary time of my absence. Marie. If you speak thus to me, I shall believe you do not know the depth of my attachment; for it is fed less upon flattering words than upon the interest I feel in all that interests you. Fontanares. What I am most interested in now, Marie, is to learn before engaging in so important an undertaking, whether you have the courage to resist your father, who is said to contemplate a marriage for you. Marie. Do you think then that I could change? Fontanares. With us men, to love is to be forever jealous! You are so rich, I am so poor. When you thought I was ruined, you had no perturbation for the future, but now that success has come we shall have the whole world between us. And you shall be my star! And shall shine upon me though from so great a distance. If I thought that at the end of my long struggle I should not find you at my side, oh! in the midst of all the triumph I should die for grief! Marie. Do you not know me yet? Though I was lonely, almost a recluse while you were absent, the pure feeling which from our childhood united me with you has grown greater with your destiny! When these eyes, which with such rapture look on you again, shall be closed forever; when this heart which only beats for God, for my father and for you shall be reduced to dust, I believe that on earth will survive a soul of mine to love you still! Do you doubt now my constancy? Fontanares. After listening to such words as these, what martyr would not receive new courage at the stake?
SCENE ELEVENTH [The same persons and Lothundiaz.]
Monipodio. (aside) Alas, those poor children are ruined! (To Lothundiaz) Alms is a treasure which is laid up in heaven. Lothundiaz. Go to work, and you can lay up treasures here on earth. (He looks round) I do not see my daughter and her duenna in their usual place. Monipodio. (to Lothundiaz) The Spaniard is by nature generous. Lothundiaz. Oh! get away! I am a Catalonian and suspicious by nature. (He catches sight of his daughter and Fontanares.) What do I see? My daughter with a young senor! (He runs up to them) It is hard enough to pay duennas for guarding children with the heart and eyes of a mother without finding them deceivers. (To his daughter) How is it that you, Marie, heiress of ten thousand sequins a year, should speak to--do my eyes deceive me? It is that blasted machinist who hasn't a maravedi. (Monipodio makes signs to Quinola.) Marie. Alfonso Fontanares is without fortune; he has seen the king. Lothundiaz. So much the worst for the king. Fontanares. Senor Lothundiaz, I am quite in a position to aspire to the hand of your daughter. Lothundiaz. Ah! Fontanares. Will you accept for your son-in-law the Duke of Neptunado, grandee of Spain, and favorite of the king? (Lothundiaz pretends to look for the Duke of Neptunado.) Marie. But it is he himself, dear father. Lothundiaz. You, whom I have known since you were two foot high, whose father used to sell cloth--do you take me for a fool?
SCENE TWELFTH [The same persons, Quinola and Dona Lopez.]
Fontanares. As a present upon our wedding, I will procure for you and for my wife a patent of nobility; we will permit you to settle her fortune by entail upon your son-- Marie. How is that, father? Quinola. How is that, sir? Lothundiaz. Why! This is that brigand of a Lavradi! Quinola. My master has won from the king an acknowledgment of my innocence. Lothundiaz. To obtain for me a patent of nobility cannot then be a difficult matter. Quinola. And do you really think that a townsman can be changed into a nobleman by letters-patent of the king! Let us make the experiment. Imagine for a moment that I am the Marquis of Lavradi. My dear duke, lend me a hundred ducats? Lothundiaz. A hundred cuts of the rod! A hundred ducats! It is the rent of a piece of property worth two thousand gold doubloons. Quinola. There! I told you so--and that fellow wishes to be ennobled! Let us try again. Count Lothundiaz, will you advance two thousand doubloons in gold to your son-in-law that he may fulfill his promises to the King of Spain? Lothundiaz. (to Fontanares) But you must tell me what you have promised. Fontanares. The King of Spain, learning of my love for your daughter, is coming to Barcelona to see a ship propelled without oars or sails, by a machine of my invention, and will himself honor our marriage by his presence. Lothundiaz. (aside) He is laughing at me. (Aloud) You are very likely to propel a ship without sails or oars! I hope you will do it; I'll go to see it. It would amuse me, but I don't wish to have for a son-in-law any man of such lofty dreams. Girls brought up in our families need no prodigies for husbands, but men who are content to mind their business at their own homes, and leave the affairs of the sun and moon alone. All that I want is that my son-in-law should be the good father of his family. Fontanares. Your daughter, senor, when she was but twelve years old, smiled on me as Beatrice smiled on Dante. Child as she was, she saw in me at first naught but a brother; since then, as we felt ourselves separated by fortune, she has watched me as I formed that bold enterprise which should bridge with glory the gulf that stood between us. It was for her sake I went to Italy and studied with Galileo. She was the first to applaud my work, the first to understand it. She had wedded herself to my thought before it had occurred to her that one day she might wed herself to me. It is thus she has become the whole world to me. Do you now understand how I adore her? Lothundiaz. It is just for that reason that I refuse to give her to you. In ten years' time she would be deserted, that you might run after some other discovery. Marie. Is it possible, father, that a lover could prove false to a love which has spurred him on to work such wonders? Lothundiaz. Yes, when he can work them no longer. Marie. If he should become a duke, grandee of Spain, and wealthy? Lothundiaz. If! If! If! Do you take me for an imbecile? These ifs are the horses that drag to the hospital all these sham world-discoverers. Fontanares. But here are the letters in which the king grants to me the use of a ship. Quinola. Now open your eyes! My master is at once a man of genius and a handsome youth; genius dulls a man and makes him of no use in a home, I grant you; but the handsome youth is there still; what more is needed by a girl for happiness? Lothundiaz. Happiness does to consist in these extremes. A handsome youth and a man of genius,--these, forsooth, are fine reasons for pouring out the treasures of Mexico. My daughter shall be Madame Sarpi.
SCENE THIRTEENTH [The same persons, and Sarpi (on the balcony).]
Lothundiaz. Sarpi. has not gone to look for a ship in the harbor of Valladolid, but he gained promotion for my son. Fontanares. Do not, Lothundiaz, merely for the sake of your son's advancement, dispose of your daughter's hand without my consent; she loves me and I love her in return. In a short time I shall be (Sarpi appears) one of the most influential men in Spain, and powerful enough to reap my vengeance-- Marie. Oh! not upon my father! Fontanares. Tell him then Marie, all that I am doing to deserve you. Sarpi. (aside) What! A rival? Quinola. (to Lothundiaz) Sir, if you don't consent, you are in a fair way to be damned. Lothundiaz. Who told you that? Quinola. And worse than that,--you are going to be robbed; this I'll swear to. Lothundiaz. To prevent my either being robbed or damned I am keeping my daughter for a man who may not have genius, but who has common sense-- Fontanares. At least you will give me time-- Sarpi. Why give him time? Quinola. (to Monipodio) Who can that be? Monipodio. Sarpi. Quinola. What a bird of prey he looks! Monipodio. And he is as difficult to kill. He is the real governor of Barcelona. Lothundiaz. My respects to you, honorable secretary! (To Fontanares) Farewell, my friend, your arrival is an excellent reason why I should hurry on the wedding. (To Marie) Come, my daughter, let us go in. (To the duenna) And you, old hag, you'll have to pay for this. Sarpi. (to Lothundiaz) This hidalgo seems to have pretensions-- Fontanares. (to Sarpi) Nay, I have a right! (Exeunt Marie, the duenna and Lothundiaz.)
SCENE FOURTEENTH [Monipodio, Sarpi, Fontanares and Quinola.]
Fontanares. Do you know that I for five years, I, Alfonso Fontanares, to whom the king our master has promised the title of Duke of Neptunado and Grandee, as well as the Golden Fleece, have loved Marie Lothundiaz, and that your pretensions, made in spite of the oath which she has sworn to me, will be considered, unless you renounce them, an insult both by her and by me? Sarpi. I did not know, my lord, that I had so great a personage for a rival. In any case, future Duke of Neptunado, future Grandee, future Knight of the Golden Fleece, we love the same woman; and if you have the promise of Marie, I have that of her father; you are expecting honors, while I possess them. Fontanares. Now, listen; let us remain just where we are; let us not utter another word; do not insult me even by a look. Had I a hundred quarrels, I would fight with no one until I had completed my enterprise and answered successfully the expectation of my king. When that moment comes, I will fight singled-handed against all. And, when I have ended the conflict, you will find me--close to the king. Sarpi. Oh! we are not going to lose sight of each other.
SCENE FIFTEENTH [The same persons, Faustine, Don Fregose and Paquita.]
Quinola. (to Monipodio) Don't you think that my master has pre-eminently the gift of drawing down the lightning on his own head? Monipodio. He carries his head so high! Sarpi. (to Don Fregose) My lord, there has arrived in Catalonia a man upon whom the king our master has heaped future honors. According to my humble opinion, he should be welcomed by your excellency in accordance with his merits. Don Fregose. (to Fontanares) Of what house are you? Fontanares. (aside) How many sneers, such as this, have I not been forced to endure! (Aloud) The king, your excellency, never asked me that question. But here is his letter and that of his ministers. (He hands him a package.) Faustine. (to Paquita) That man has the air of a king. Paquita. Of a king who will prove a conqueror. Faustine. (recognizing Monipodio) Monipodio! Do you know who that man is? Monipodio. He is a man who, according to rumor, is going to turn the world upside down. Faustine. Ah! I see; it is that famous inventor of whom I have heard so much. Monipodio. And here is his servant. Don Fregose. Sarpi, you may file these ministerial documents; I will keep that of the king. (To Fontanares) Well, my fine fellow, the letter of the king seems to me to be positive. You are undertaking, I see, to achieve the impossible! However great you may be, perhaps it would be well for you to take the advice, in this affair, of Don Ramon, a philosopher of Catalonia who, on this subject, has written some famous treatises-- Fontanares. In a matter of this kind, your excellency, the finest dissertations in the world are not worth so much as a practical achievement. Don Fregose. That sounds presumptuous. (To Sarpi) Sarpi, you must place at the disposal of this gentleman whatever vessel in the harbor he may choose. Sarpi. (to the viceroy) Are you quite sure that such is the king's wish? Don Fregose. We shall see. In Spain it is best to say a _paternoster_ between every two steps we take. Sarpi. Other letters on the same subject have reached us from Valladolid. Faustine. (to the viceroy) What are you talking about? Don Fregose. Oh, it is nothing but a chimera. Faustine. But don't you know that I am rather fond of chimeras? Don Fregose. This is the chimera of some philosopher which the king has taken seriously on account of the disaster of the Armada. If this gentleman succeeds, we shall have the court at Barcelona. Faustine. We shall be much indebted to him for that. Don Fregose. He has staked his life on a commission to propel a vessel, swift as the wind, yet straight in the wind's eye, without the employment of either oars or sails. Faustine. Staked his life? He must be a child to do so. Sarpi. Alfonso Fontanares reckons that the performance of this miracle will win for him the hand of Marie Lothundiaz. Faustine. Ah! He loves her then-- Quinola. (whispering to Faustine) No, senora, he adores her. Faustine. The daughter of Lothundiaz! Don Fregose. You seem suddenly to feel a great interest in him. Faustine. I hope the gentleman may succeed, if it were only for the purpose of bringing the court here. Don Fregose. Senora, will you not come and take luncheon at the villa of Avaloros? A vessel is at your service in the harbor. Faustine. No, my lord, the night of pleasure has wearied me, and a sail would prove too much. I am not obliged, like you, to be indefatigable; youth loves sleep, give me leave then to retire and take a little rest. Don Fregose. You never say anything to me but that your words contain some innuendo. Faustine. You ought to be grateful that I do not take you seriously! (Exeunt Faustine, the Viceroy and Paquita.)
SCENE SIXTEENTH [Avaloros, Quinola, Monipodio, Fontanares and Sarpi.]
Avaloros. I do not care; I have won ten crowns in gold. (Sarpi and Avaloros talk together.) Fontanares. (to Monipodio) Who is this person? Monipodio. It is Avaloros, the richest banker of Catalonia; he has bought the whole Mediterranean to be his tributary. Quinola. I feel my heart filled with tenderness towards him. Monipodio. Every one of us owns him as our master. Avaloros. (to Fontanares) Young man, I am a banker; if your business is a good one, next to the protection of God and that of the king, nothing is as good as that of a millionaire. Sarpi. (to the banker) Make no engagements at present. You and I together will easily be able to make ourselves masters of this enterprise. Avaloros. (to Fontanares) Very well, my friend, you must come to see me. (Monipodio secretly robs him of his purse.)
SCENE SEVENTEENTH [Monipodio, Fontanares and Quinola.]
Monipodio. Don Fregose is jealous of you. Quinola. Sarpi is bent on defeating your enterprise. Monipodio. You are posing as a giant before dwarfs who are in power! Before you put on these airs of pride, succeed! People who succeed make themselves small, slip into small openings and glide inward to the treasure. Quinola. Glory? But my dear sir, it can only be obtained by theft. Fontanares. Do you wish me to abase myself? Monipodio. Yes, in order that you may gain your point. Fontanares. Pretty good for a Sarpi! I shall make an open struggle for it. But what obstacle do you see between success and me? Am I not on my way to the harbor to choose a fine galleon? Quinola. Ah! I am superstitious on that point. Sir, do not choose the galley! Fontanares. I see no reason why I shouldn't. Quinola. You have had no experience! You have had something else to make discoveries about. Ah, sir, we are moneyless, without credit at any inn, and if I had not met this old friend who loves me, for there are friends who hate you, we should have been without clothes-- Fontanares. But she loves me! (Marie waves her handkerchief at the window.) See, see, my star is shining! Quinola. Why, sir, it is a handkerchief! Are you sufficiently in your right mind to take a bit of advice? This is not the sort of madonna for you; you need a Marchioness of Mondejar--one of those slim creatures, clad in steel, who through love are capable of all the expedients which distress makes necessary. Now the Brancadori-- Fontanares. If you want me to throw the whole thing up you will go on talking like that! Bear that in mind; love gives the only strength I have. It is the celestial light that leads me on. Quinola. There, there, do not excite yourself. Monipodio. This man makes me anxious! He seems to me rather to be possessed by the machinery of love than by the love of machinery.
SCENE EIGHTEENTH [The same persons and Paquita.]
Monipodio. That is my business. You may go without fear through all the streets of Barcelona; if any one seeks your life, I shall be the first to know it. Fontanares. Danger! Already? Paquita. You have given me no answer for her. Quinola. No, my pet, people don't think about two machines at the same time; tell your divine mistress that my master kisses her feet. I am a bachelor, sweet angel, and wish to make a happy end. (He kisses her.) Paquita. (slapping him in the face) You fool! Quinola. Oh, charming! (Exit Paquita.)
SCENE NINETEENTH [Fontanares, Quinola and Monipodio.]
Quinola. The battle is beginning even earlier than I had expected. Fontanares. Where shall I obtain money? Quinola. We can't borrow it, but we can buy it. How much do you need? Fontanares. Two thousand doubloons in gold. Quinola. I have been trying to make an estimate of the treasury I intended to draw upon; it is not plump enough for that. Monipodio. Well, now, I have found a purse. Quinola. Forget nothing in your estimate; you will require, sir, iron, copper, steel, wood, all of which the merchants can supply. I have an idea! I will found the house of Quinola and Company; if they don't prosper you shall. Fontanares. Ah! what would have become of me without you? Monipodio. You would have been the prey of Avaloros. Fontanares. To work, then! The inventor must prove the salvation of the lover. (Exeunt.)
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