Worthy Don't worry. Arabella has thirty thousand crowns when she marries. If she had nothing, I would still love her a hundred times better than a rich girl with money enough to turn your head. From her earliest years, raised by my mother, her image has been graven in my heart and nothing can efface it. Our two hearts, which seem made for each other, first tasted this happy news just before my mother died. Because of this disaster, Albert, this old jealous fool that hell should confound--separated her from me, with the consent of Arabella's relatives. I didn't know him, and she, I believe, like me, had never heard of his name. People told me that he was a very troubled spirit-- defiant, hard, brutal. Scratch They told you right. We must learn, first off, if we can introduce ourselves into this fortress by cleverness or must use force--whether it is better to make an open siege or form plans for a blockade. Worthy You always employ military terms. You've been to the wars. Scratch In all affairs, the mind must always be used before resorting to brute force. Today's not the first time I've seen combat. I deserted twice from the militia. When one intends, you see, for a siege to succeed, one must prevent anything from entering, know the surroundings, learn its weaknesses and its strengths. When one is well informed about what's happening, one digs a trench, bombards the place, overthrows a rampart--makes a breach--advances in good order--and gives the assault. One strangles, massacres, kills, steals, and pillages. It's almost the same when one takes a young woman. Right, sir? Worthy In this matter, Jenny, the maid, is in our interests. Scratch So much the better. The more intelligence one has of the city, the more hope one has of success. One must take it noiselessly--without drums. All night help comes. Make her signals, so she'll understand. Worthy Come, let's discover ways to take it. And, so as not to arouse suspicions, let's avoid remaining around here too long. Scratch As chief engineer and master of artillery, I am going to see where I ought to place my batteries--to punch a hole in Albert and oblige him to surrender the place quickly or withstand our assault. CURTAIN ACT II. Scene: Same as Act I, later that day.