h?

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.

Sarpi (to Avaloros)
It is too late for a sail.

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
prote