Faustine The other day, they tell me, the Queen Catherine de Medici sent an order to Diana of Poitiers to deliver up what jewels she had received from Henry II.; Diana sent them back melted into an ingot. Paquita, fetch the jeweler. Fregose You will do nothing of the kind, but leave the room. (Exit Paquita.) SCENE TENTH The same persons, with the exception of Paquita. Faustine As I am not yet the Marchioness of Fregose, how dare you give your orders in my house? Fregose I am quite aware of the fact that here it is my duty to receive them. But is my whole fortune worth one word from you? Forgive an impulse of despair. Faustine One ought to be a gentleman, even in despair; and in your despair you treat Faustine as a courtesan. Ah! you wish to be adored, but the vilest Venetian woman would tell you that this costs dear. Fregose I have deserved this terrible outburst. Faustine You say you love me. Love me? Love is self-devotion without the hope of recompense. Love is the wish to live in the light of a sun which the lover trembles to approach. Do not deck out your egotism in the lustre of genuine love. A married woman, Laura de Nova, said to Petrarch, "You are mine, without hope--live on without love." But when Italy crowned the poet she crowned also his sublime love, and centuries to come shall echo with admiration to the names of Laura and Petrarch. Fregose There are very many poets whom I dislike, but the man you mention is the object of my abomination. To the end of the world women will throw him in the face of those lovers whom they wish to keep without taking. Faustine You are called general, but you are nothing but a soldier. Fregose Indeed, and how then shall I imitate this cursed Petrarch? Faustine If you say you love me, you will ward off from a man of genius--(Don Fregose starts)--yes, there are such--the martyrdom which his inferiors are preparing for him. Show yourself great, assist him! I know it will give you pain, but assist him; then I shall believe you love me, and you will become more illustrious, in my sight at least, by this act of generosity than by your capture of Mantua. Fregose Here, in your presence, I feel capable of anything, but you cannot dream of the tempest which will fall upon my head, if I obey your word. Faustine Ah! you shrink from obeying me! Fregose Protect him, admire him, if you like; but do not love him! Faustine The ship given him by the king has been held back; you can restore it to him, in a moment. Fregose And I will send him to give you the thanks. Faustine Do it! And learn how much I love you. (Exit Don Fregose.) SCENE ELEVENTH Faustine (alone) And yet so many women wish that they were men. SCENE TWELFTH Faustine, Paquita, Lothundiaz and Marie. Paquita Senora, here are Senor Lothundiaz and his daughter. (Exit.) SCENE THIRTEENTH