d to send all the ships of Barcelona to
the coasts of France; and, through the prudence of the enemies which
Fontanares made at Valladolid, this order is absolute and subsequent
to the king's letter.

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 assist 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 Avalo