_Gom._ O my gold! my wife! my wife! my gold! As I hope to be saved now, I know no more of the plot than they that made it. [_They carry him off, and exeunt._ _Lor._ Thus far we have sailed with a merry gale, and now we have the Cape of Good Hope in sight; the trade-wind is our own, if we can but double it. [_He looks out._ [_Aside._] Ah, my father and Pedro stand at the corner of the street with company; there's no stirring till they are past. _Enter_ ELVIRA _with a casket._ _Elv._ Am I come at last into your arms? _Lor._ Fear nothing; the adventure's ended, and the knight may carry off the lady safely. _Elv._ I'm so overjoyed, I can scarce believe I am at liberty; but stand panting, like a bird that has often beaten her wings in vain against her cage, and at last dares hardly venture out, though she sees it open. _Dom._ Lose no time, but make haste while the way is free for you; and thereupon I give you my benediction. _Lor._ 'Tis not so free as you suppose; for there's an old gentleman of my acquaintance, that blocks up the passage at the corner of the street. _Dom._ What have you gotten there under your arm, daughter? somewhat, I hope, that will bear your charges in your pilgrimage. _Lor._ The friar has an hawk's eye to gold and jewels. _Elv._ Here's that will make you dance without a fiddle, and provide better entertainment for us, than hedges in summer, and barns in winter. Here's the very heart, and soul, and life-blood of Gomez; pawns in abundance, old gold of widows, and new gold of prodigals, and pearls and diamonds of court ladies, till the next bribe helps their husbands to redeem them. _Dom._ They are the spoils of the wicked, and the church endows you with them. _Lor._ And, faith, we'll drink the church's health out of them. But all this while I stand on thorns. Pr'ythee, dear, look out, and see if the coast be free for our escape; for I dare not peep, for fear of being known. [ELVIRA _goes to look, and_ GOMEZ _comes running in upon her: She shrieks out._ _Gom._ Thanks to my stars, I have recovered my own territories.--What do I see? I'm ruined! I'm undone! I'm betrayed! _Dom._ [_Aside._] What a hopeful enterprise is here spoiled! _Gom._ O, colonel are you there?--and you, friar? nay, then I find how the world goes. _Lor._ Cheer up, man, thou art out of jeopardy; I heard thee crying out just now, and came running in full speed, with the wings of an eagle, and the feet of a tiger, to thy rescue. _Gom._ Ay, you are always at hand to do me a courtesy, with your eagle's feet, and your tiger's wings.--And what were you here for, friar? _Dom._ To interpose my spiritual authority in your behalf. _Gom._ And why did you shriek out, gentlewoman? _Elv._ 'Twas for joy at your return. _Gom._ And that casket under your arm, for what end and purpose? _Elv._ Only to preserve it from the thieves.