t is on the point of expiring in
the storm of mockery. Ah! If the good that you do is done amiss, you
are always successful in the accomplishment of what is bad! But why
should I proceed?--You are not worthy of my anger.

Faustine (aside)
Oh! Another word and I must cry out that I adore him!

Don Fregose
Sarpi, tell the police officers to advance and carry off the
accomplice of Quinola.

(Applause and cries of "bravo!")

SCENE THIRD

The same persons and Marie Lothundiaz.

(At the moment the police officers seize Fontanares, Marie appears, in
the habit of a novice, accompanied by a monk and two sisters.)

Marie Lothundiaz (to the viceroy)
My lord, I have just learned that in my desire to save Fontanares from
the rage of his enemies I have caused his ruin. But now an opportunity
is given me to vindicate the truth, and I beg to declare that I myself
put into the hands of Quinola the precious stones and the money I had
treasured as my own. (Lothundiaz shows some excitement.) They belonged
to me, father, and God grant that you may not have cause some day to
mourn your own blindness.

Quinola (throwing off his cloak)
Whew! I breathe freely at last!

Fontanares (bending his knee before Marie)
Thanks, radiant and spotless creature, through whose love I still am
kept close to that heaven from which I draw my faith and hope; you
have saved my honor.

Marie
And is not your honor also mine? Your glory is yet to come.

Fontanares
Alas! my work is dismembered and dispersed, held in a hundred
avaricious hands, who will not give it back excepting at the price it
cost to fabricate. To recover it I should double the amount of my
indebtedness and fail to complete the enterprise in time. All is over!

Faustine (to Marie)
Only sacrifice yourself for him and he is saved.

Marie
What say you, father? And you, Count Sarpi? (Aside) It will be my
death! (Aloud) Will you consent, on condition I obey you, to give
Fontanares all that is necessary for the success of his undertaking?
(To Faustine) I shall devote myself to God, senora!

Faustine
You are sublime, sweet angel. (Aside) And thus at last deliverance
comes to me!

Fontanares
Stay, Marie! I would choose the struggle and all its perils, I would
choose death itself, rather than the loss of you from such a cause.

Marie
Rather than glory? (To the viceroy) My lord, you will cause my gems to
be restored to Quinola. I return to my conv