FIESCO (walking about in a passion). A hundred sequins? And is that all the value set upon Fiesco's head? Shame on thee, Prince of Genoa! Here, fellow (taking money from an escritoire), are a thousand for thee. Tell thy master he is a niggardly assassin. (MOOR looks at him with astonishment.) What dost thou gaze at? (MOOR takes up the money--lays it down--takes it up again, and looks at FIESCO with increased astonishment). What dost thou mean? MOOR (throwing the money resolutely upon the table). Sir, that money I have not earned--I deserve it not. FIESCO. Blockhead, thou hast deserved the gallows; but the offended elephant tramples on men not on worms. Were thy life worth but two words I would have thee hanged. MOOR (bowing with an air of pleasure at his escape). Sir, you are too good---- FIESCO. Not towards thee! God forbid! No. I am amused to think my humor can make or unmake such a villain as thou, therefore dost thou go scot-free--understand me aright--I take thy failure as an omen of my future greatness--'tis this thought that renders me indulgent, and preserves thy life. MOOR (in a tone of confidence). Count, your hand! honor for honor. If any man in this country has a throat too much--command me, and I'll cut it--gratis. FIESCO. Obliging scoundrel! He would show his gratitude by cutting throats wholesale! MOOR. Men like me, sir, receive no favor without acknowledgment. We know what honor is. FIESCO. The honor of cut-throats? MOOR. Which is, perhaps, more to be relied on than that of your men of character. They break their oaths made in the name of God. We keep ours pledged to the devil. FIESCO. Thou art an amusing villain. MOOR. I rejoice to meet your approbation. Try me; you will find in me a man who is a thorough master of his profession. Examine me; I can show my testimonials of villany from every guild of rogues--from the lowest to the highest. FIESCO. Indeed! (seating himself.) There are laws and systems then even among thieves. What canst thou tell me of the lowest class? MOOR. Oh, sir, they are petty villains, mere pick-pockets. They are a miserable set. Their trade never produces a man of genius; 'tis confined to the whip and workhouse--and at most can lead but to the gallows. FIESCO. A charming prospect! I should like to hear something of a superior class. MOOR. The next are spies and informers--tools of importance to the great, who from their secret information derive their own supposed omniscience. These villains insinuate themselves into the souls of men like leeches; they draw poison from the heart, and spit it forth against the very source from whence it came. FIESCO. I understand thee--go on----