Olla Podrida Part 6

_Enter Jacobo, with Antonio._

_Jac._ One who inquires for thee, Anselmo, Who would confess.

_Gasp._ (_Takes a confessional chair._) I know the man: Jacobo, leave us. [_Exit Jacobo._ My son, we are alone; now thou may'st profit By holy rite, and on thy bended knees Pour out thy soul to me in deep contrition.

Hast thou perform'd the penance I enjoin'd For the sad stumblings thou did'st last confess?

_Ant._ I have, most holy father, to my belief Obey'd thy strict injunction.

I have so much to think of for my master, My thoughts are scarce mine own; Still do I often call upon the saints.

_Gasp._ I trust thou dost--and not as I have heard That worldlings do, invoke them in mere blasphemy.

_Ant._ Nay, father, when I call, I am sincere.

_Gasp._ Thou dost evade, I fear, with double meaning.

But to the purpose--by what sins hast thou, Since last we met, endanger'd thy poor soul?

_Ant._ Father, my mind is ill at ease. I serve A master most equivocal--a false one In all he says and does; in love--in everything.

I know not what to think. He's here and there-- In fact, I do believe he is--the devil.

_Gasp._ Give me the grounds for this thy strange suspicion.

_Ant._ He keeps his chamber lock'd, his haunts unknown.

He comes when least expected. How he comes I cannot tell. He goes, and Heaven knows where.

I ne'er can make him out with all my prying.

_Gasp._ It would appear thy master doth not trust thee.

Why should'st thou watch, and seek to find out that He would conceal? This base prying nature Is a dark sin, and must be check'd by penance.

Hast thou no more?

_Ant._ Yes, father, I've a grievous fault to tell; One that I'm fearful thou wilt much abhor-- An accident, 'tis true, and most unlucky-- I have two wives in Seville.

_Gasp._ Two wives! Thou hast profaned the holy rite!

What! wedded twice! and say 'twas accident!

_Ant._ An accident--they both have come to Seville.

_Gasp._ It is a heinous sin--one that demands Justice on earth; scarce pardon claims from Heaven.

Two wives! How long hast thou thus lived in sin?

_Ant._ 'Tis now three years since I did wed the second!

I had forgot, my memory is so bad, I wedded was before--till yesterday, I chanced to meet with both of them in Seville.

_Gasp._ Thy memory's most convenient, but the law Will not o'erlook thy crime when it is known.

_Ant._ We'll leave it to the law, then, please thee, father.

The sin is one that carries its own penance.

_Gasp._ How could'st thou venture on so foul a deed?

_Ant._ Example, holy father! bad example.

It is our masters who do ruin us.

My present one, for instance, loves two ladies, And woos them both. Sad reprobate he is!

_Gasp._ Another's fault can't sanctify thine own, Else all th' ordinances of our church were useless; Thou art more knave than fool, Antonio, And yet made up of both. For this thy crime I have no absolution. Haste thee hence, And tremble at thy state of sad perdition! [_Exit Gaspar._

_Ant. (looking after him_). More knave than fool!--why, yes, that's true. What a scurvy fellow! No absolution! I shall take the liberty of changing my confessor. So, good sir, I give you your warning. Must not pry either! Does he not pry into my conscience as far as he can? Why, his whole life is a life of prying!--I have no opinion of these monks!

They're no better than they should be. The law must take its course--there's the mischief. Let me only contrive to get out of its clutches now, and I'll take my chance for getting out of the devil's hereafter! [_Exit._

_Scene III._

_A Street in Seville._

_Enter Felix and Perez, meeting._

_Felix._ Perez, well met; I hoped to find you. Have you discovered who your rival may be? and what answer have you gained from Donna Serafina to your most urgent pleadings?

_Perez._ Confusion light upon her! She hath returned my letter without opening it; and sent a request that I will desist from useless persecution. Beppa, her confidante, I have contrived to parley with; and what with bribes and much entreaty, I have ascertained that this Don Gaspar _is_ the rival who supplants me.

_Felix._ I doubt it, Perez--doubt it much. I, too, have gained some information from Sancho, who a.s.sociates much with one Nina, Isidora's favoured woman. From this source I've learned that this Don Gaspar is her favoured cavalier, and that last night they had a meeting.

_Perez._ Yet I am sure my knowledge is correct, and that the Donna Serafina grants him those favours which I consider are but due to me.

_Felix._ Why, what a conscientious cavalier is this, who thus monopolises all our beauties! I fain would see him. What is he like? His properties must be wondrous indeed. Where is he to be met?

_Perez._ He often pa.s.ses this way to the Prado. I wish to meet him also, but not in courtesy. Indeed! see, here he comes!

[_Enter Don Gaspar and as he would pa.s.s by, Perez steps before him.

Gaspar moves on one side and Perez again intercepts him._

_Gasp._ Don Perez, at first I imagined this was accident, but now your conduct will admit no such interpretation. Do you dispute my pa.s.sage?

_Perez._ I do--until we have had some little parley.

_Gasp._ Then, sir, your parley. Be brief. Indeed, I know not what there is between us that demands it.

_Perez._ I believe, Don Gaspar, that you woo a lady.

_Gasp._ 'Tis not impossible.

_Perez._ You will oblige me if you cease to woo.

_Gasp._ Don Perez, I never brook affront. What has already pa.s.sed demands a deadly meeting. But to reply to your strange request, who is the lady I am commanded not to woo, and upon what grounds?

_Perez._ The lady is the Donna Serafina--I grant a fickle, yet a lovely one. You call yourself Don Gaspar. Who is this Don Gaspar that ruffles thus with our n.o.bility? Detail your ancestry and lineage. Of what family are you? Where are your possessions? show me the patent of your descent or else----

_Gasp._ Or else, Don Perez?

_Perez._ I publish you through Seville!