The Resources of Quinola: A Comedy in a Prologue and Five Acts

The Duke It is said that enmity between the duke and the marchioness was only a pretence, and that the assassin is not to be prosecuted.

The Captain Duke, this ought not to be repeated unless it can be proved, and even then could not be written excepting with a sword dipped in my blood.

The Duke

You asked me the news.

(The duke retires.)

SCENE FIFTH

The same persons, and the Marchioness of Mondejar.

The Captain Ah! here is my cousin! (To the marchioness) Dear marchioness, you are still very much agitated. In the name of our common salvation, control yourself; you will attract attention.

The Marchioness

Has that man come back?

The Captain Now, how can a man of such base condition as he is throw you into such terror?

The Marchioness He holds my life in his hands; more than my life, indeed; for he holds in his power the life also of another, who, in spite of the most scrupulous precautions, cannot avoid exciting the jealousy —

The Captain Of the king! – Did he cause the assassination of the Duke of Olmedo, as is rumored?

The Marchioness Alas! I do not know what to think. – Here I am alone, helpless – and perhaps soon to be abandoned.

The Captain You may rely upon me – I shall constantly be in the midst of all our enemies like a hunter on the watch.

SCENE SIXTH

The same persons and Quinola.

Quinola

I have only thirty doubloons left, but I have had the worth of sixty.

– Ah! what a lovely scent! The marchioness can now talk to me without fear.

The Marchioness (pointing out Quinola)

Is this our man?

The Captain

Yes.

The Marchioness Keep watch, my cousin, so that I may be able to talk without being overheard. (To Quinola) Who are you, my friend?

Quinola (aside)

Her friend! As soon as you have a woman's secret, you are her friend.

(Aloud) Madame, I am a man superior to all considerations and all circumstances.

The Marchioness

You have reached a pretty good height, at any rate.

Quinola

Is that a threat or a warning?

The Marchioness

Sir, you are very impertinent.

Quinola Do not mistake farsightedness for impertinence. You must study me, before coming to a decision. I am going to describe my character to you; my real name is Lavradi. At the moment Lavradi ought to be serving a ten years' sentence in Africa, at the presides, owing to an error of the alcaldes of Barcelona. Quinola is the conscience, white as your fair hands, of Lavradi. Quinola does to know Lavradi. Does the soul know the body? You may unite the soul, Quinola, to the body, Lavradi, all the more easily because this morning Quinola was at the postern of your garden, with the friends of the dawn who stopped the Duke of Olmedo —

The Marchioness

What has happened to him?

Quinola Lavradi would take advantage of this moment, which is full of promise, to ask a pardon; but Quinola is a gentleman.

The Marchioness

You are taken up too much with yourself —

Quinola And not sufficiently with him – that is just. The duke took us for foul assassins; we were simply asking him, at a rather too advantageous hour, to make us a loan, pledged by our rapiers as collateral. The famous Majoral, who was in command of us, being close pressed by the duke, was forced to disable him by a little thrust, of which he knows the secret.

The Marchioness

O! My God! —

Quinola

Happiness is cheap at such a cost, madame.

The Marchioness (aside)

Hush! He knows my secret.

Quinola When we saw that the duke had not a maravedi about him, we left him where he was. As I was the least culpable of all the gang, I was charged to take him home; in adjusting his pockets, which had been turned inside out, I found the letter which he had written to you, and, learning your position at the court, I understood —

The Marchioness

That your fortune was made?