Fontanares A convent? Is that the way they would separate us? These tortures make one curse the day of his birth. And you, Marie, you, who are the mainspring and the glory of my discovery, the star that protected my destiny, I have forced you to seek refuge in heaven! I cannot stand up against that. (He weeps.) Marie But by promising to enter a convent, I obtained my father's permission to come here. I wish in bidding you farewell to bring you hope. Here are the savings of a young girl, of your sister, which I have kept against the day when all would forsake you. Fontanares And what care I for glory, for fortune, for life itself, without you? Marie Accept the gift which is all that the woman who intends to be your wife can and ought to offer. If I feel that you are unhappy and in distress, hope will forsake me in my retirement, and I shall die, uttering a last prayer for you! Quinola (to Marie) Let him play the proud man, we may save him in spite of himself. Do you know it is for this purpose that I am passing myself off as his grandfather? (Marie gives her purse to Quinola.) Lothundiaz (to Don Ramon) So you do not think much of him? Don Ramon Oh, no, he is an artisan, who knows nothing and who doubtless stole his secret in Italy. Lothundiaz I have always doubted him, and it seems I was right in refusing him my daughter in marriage. Don Ramon He would bring her to beggary. He has squandered five thousand sequins, and has gone into debt three thousand in eight months, without attaining any result! Ah! He is a contrast with his grandfather. There's a philosopher of the first rank for you! Fontanares will have to work hard to catch up with him. (He points to Quinola.) Lothundiaz His grandfather? Quinola Yes, senor, my name of Fontanares was changed to that of Fontanaresi. Lothundiaz And you are Pablo Fontanaresi? Quinola Yes, Pablo himself. Lothundiaz And you are rich? Quinola Opulent. Lothundiaz That delights me, senor. I suppose that now you will pay me the two thousand sequins which you borrowed from my father? Quinola Certainly, if you can show me my signature, I am ready to pay the bond. Marie (after a conversation with Fontanares) You will accept this--will you not--as a means of securing your triumph, for is not our happiness staked on that? Fontanares To think that I am dragging down this pearl into the gulf which is yawning to receive me. (Quinola and Monipodio depart.) SCENE FIFTEENTH The same persons and Sarpi. Sarpi (to Lothundiaz) You here, Senor Lothundiaz? And your daughter too? Lothundiaz I promised that she should come her to say farewell on condition that she would not refuse to retire to a convent afterwards. Sarpi The assembly here is so numerous that I am not surprised, nor in the least offended, by your complaisance towards her. Fontanares Ah! Here comes the fiercest of my persecutors. How are you, senor; are you come to put my constancy to a fresh test?