e men of honor.

Esteban
Take the honor of each of us to the Lombard and you will see how much
he will lend you on it.

Girone
I am not a man of talent, not I, and no one will give me trust.

Esteban
I am nothing but a villainous workman, but if my wife needs an iron
pot, I pay for it, by heaven!

Fontanares
I would like to know who it is has set you on me in this way?

Girone
Set us on? Are we dogs?

Esteban
The magistrates of Barcelona have given judgment in favor of Masters
Coppolus and Carpano, and have granted them a lien on your inventions;
pray tell us, where is our lien?

Girone
I shan't go away from this place without my money.

Fontanares
Can you find any money by staying here? However, here you may remain.
Good-day. (He takes up his hat and cloak.)

Esteban
No! You won't go out without paying us.

(The workmen prepare to bar the door.)

Girone
There is a piece which I forged myself; I am going to keep it.

Fontanares
What! You wretch! (He draws his sword.)

The Workmen
You will not make us budge.

Fontanares (rushing upon them)
Here is for you! (He stops short and throws away his sword.) Perhaps
these fellows have been sent by Avaloros and Sarpi to push me to
extremes. If they succeeded I might be accused of murder and thrown
into prison for years. (He kneels down before the Madonna.) Oh, my
God! Are genius and crime the same thing in Thy sight? What have I
done to suffer such defeats, such insults and such outrages? Must I
pay for my triumph in advance? (To the workmen) Every Spaniard is
master in his own house.

Esteban
You have no house. This place is the Golden Sun; the landlord has told
us so.

Girone
You haven't paid for your lodging; you pay for nothing.

Fontanares
Remain where you are, my masters, I was wrong; I am in debt.

SCENE NINTH

The same persons, Coppolus and Carpano.

Coppolus
Senor, I come to tell you that the magistrates of Barcelona have
granted me a lien on your machine, and I shall take measures that no
part of it leaves this place. My confrere, Carpano, your locksmith,
shares my claim.

Fontanares
What devil is blinding you? Without me, this machine is nothing but so
much iron, steel, copper and wood; with me, it represents a fortune.

Coppolus
We are not going to leave you.

(The two merchants make a movement as if to hem in Fontanares.)

Fontanares
What friend embraces you so closely as a creditor? Well