The Resources Of Quinola Part 32

The Grand Inquisitor They are as follows: In his treatise on the casting of cannons Don Ramon speaks of a certain invention called Thunder, made by Leonardo da Vinci, your master, and says that it might be applied to the navigation of a s.h.i.+p.

Don Ramon Ah! young man, acknowledge that you had read my treatises!

Fontanares (aside) I would sacrifice all my glory for one hour of vengeance!

SCENE FOURTH

The same persons and Quinola.

Quinola (aside to Fontanares) Senor, the fruit was too fair, and a worm has been found in it!

Fontanares What do you mean?

Quinola h.e.l.l has belched back upon us, I know not how--Monipodio, all on fire for revenge; he is on board the s.h.i.+p with a band of devils, and swears to scuttle it, unless you guarantee him ten thousand sequins.

Fontanares (kneels) Thanks, thanks for that. O ocean, whom I once longed to subdue, thou art the sole protector that is left to me; thou shalt keep my secret to eternity! (To Quinola) See that Monipodio steers for the open sea and there scuttles the s.h.i.+p.

Quinola What is this? Do I understand you aright? Which of us two has lost his head?

Fontanares Do as I bid you.

Quinola But, my dear master--

Fontanares My life and yours are equally at stake.

Quinola Obey, without understanding why? For the first time I'll risk it.

(Exit.)

SCENE FIFTH

The same persons, with the exception of Quinola.

Fontanares (to Don Fregose) My lord! Putting aside the question of priority, which can easily be decided, may I be permitted to withdraw my name from this debate, begging of you to accept the statement which is here drawn up and contains the justification before the king our master?

Don Ramon You acknowledge then my claim?

Fontanares I will acknowledge anything you like, even to the point that O plus O is a binomial!

Don Fregose (after consulting with the Grand Inquisitor) Your demand is perfectly legitimate; we will forward a copy of your statement, preserving here the original.

Fontanares I have, then, escaped with my life. Let me ask all of you here present, if you look upon Don Ramon as the real inventor of the vessel which has been propelled by steam before the eyes of two hundred thousand Spaniards?

All We do.

(Quinola makes his appearance.)

Fontanares Very good. Don Ramon has accomplished this prodigy. Don Ramon can begin his work again. (A loud explosion is heard.) The prodigy is no longer in existence. The employment of such a force is not without danger, and the danger which Don Ramon had not foreseen, has manifested itself, at the very moment while Don Ramon was receiving your congratulations! (Cries in the distance; everybody rushes to the balcony and gazes seaward.) I am avenged!

Don Fregose What will the king say?

The Grand Inquisitor France is all ablaze, the low countries in revolt, Calvin is stirring up all Europe; the king has too much business on his hands to worry himself about the loss of a s.h.i.+p. This new invention and the Reformation would have been too much at one time for the world! Now for some years the rapacity of maritime peoples has been checked.

(Exeunt omnes.)

SCENE SIXTH

Quinola, Fontanares and Faustine.

Faustine Alfonso, I have done you much wrong.

Fontanares Marie is dead, senora; I do not know the meaning of the words right and wrong, nowadays.

Quinola There is a man for you.

Faustine Forgive me, and I will devote myself to your future.

Fontanares Forgiveness! That word has been erased from my heart. There are situations in which the heart either breaks or turns to bronze. I am scarcely twenty-five years old, but to-day you have changed me into a man of fifty. You have lost to me one world, now you owe me another--

Quinola Let us turn our attention to politics.

Faustine And is not my love, Alfonso, worth a world?

Fontanares Yes, for you are a magnificent instrument of ruin and devastation. Yet it will be by means of you that I shall crush all those who have been an obstacle in my pathway; I take you, not for my wife, but for my slave, and you shall serve me.

Faustine Serve you blindly.

Fontanares But without hope that there will be any return--need I say of what?

All here (he strikes his hand upon his heart) is of bronze. You have taught me what this world is made of. O world of self-interest, of trickery, of policy and of perfidy, I defy you to the combat!

Quinola Senor?

Fontanares What is it?

Quinola Am I in it with you?

Fontanares You? You are the only one who has still a place in my heart. We three will stand together; we will go--

Faustine Where?

Fontanares We will go to France.

Faustine Let us start at once; I know these Spaniards, and they are sure to plot your death.