The Resources Of Quinola Part 13

Avaloros What do you want to get out of the deal?

Sarpi The functions of the Grand Master of Naval Construction--these I wish to be mine.

Avaloros But what is your ultimate object?

Sarpi Glory.

Avaloros You rascally trickster!

Sarpi Your greedy extortioner!

Avaloros Let us hunt together; it will be time enough to quarrel when we come to the division of the prey. Give me your hand. (Aside) I am the stronger, and I control the viceroy through the Brancadori.

Sarpi (aside) We have fattened him sufficiently, let us kill him; I know how to destroy him.

Avaloros We must gain over this Quinola to our interests, and I have sent for him to hold a conference with the Brancadori.

SCENE THIRD

The same persons and Quinola.

Quinola I hang between two thieves. But these thieves are powdered over with virtue and tricked out with fine manners. And they would like to hang the rest of us!

Sarpi You rogue, while you are waiting for your master to propel the galleys by new methods, you ought to be rowing in them yourself.

Quinola The king, who justly appreciates my merits, well understands that he would lose too much by such an arrangement.

Sarpi You shall be watched!

Quinola That I can well believe, for I keep watch on myself.

Avaloros (to Sarpi) You are rousing his suspicions, for he is an honest lad. (To Quinola) Come my good fellow, have you any idea of what is meant by wealth?

Quinola No, for I have seen it from too great a distance.

Avaloros Say, such a sum as two thousand golden doubloons?

Quinola What? I do not know what you mean! You dazzle me. Is there such a sum?

Two thousand doubloons! That means to be a land-holder, to own a house, a servant, a horse, a wife, an income; to be protected instead of being chased by the Holy Brotherhood!--What must I do to gain it?

Avaloros You must a.s.sist me in obtaining a contract for the mutual advantage of your master and myself.

Quinola I understand! To tangle him up. O my conscience, that is very fine!

But, dear conscience, be silent for a while; let me forget you for a few days, and we will live comfortably together for the rest of my life.

Avaloros (to Sarpi) We have him.

Sarpi (to Avaloros) 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 s.h.i.+p?

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 s.h.i.+p 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?