Philip II. (to the Captain of the Guards)
Has our man arrived?
The Captain
The Duke of Olmedo, whom I met on the palace steps, has at once obeyed
the commands of the king.
The Duke of Olmedo (falling on one knee)
Will the king deign to pardon a delay--unpardonable?
Philip II. (raising him by his wounded arm)
I was told you were dying--(he glances at the marchioness)--of a wound
received in a nocturnal attack.
The Duke of Olmedo
Well, you see me here, sire, a sufficient answer.
The Marchioness (aside)
He is rouged!
Philip II. (to the duke)
Where is your prisoner?
The Duke of Olmedo (pointing to Fontanares)
Yonder he stands.
Fontanares (kneeling)
And ready, to the great glory of God, to do wonders which shall add
splendor to the reign of the king, my master.
Philip II.
Rise up and speak to me; what is this force miraculous which shall
give to Spain the empire of the world?
Fontanares
It is a force invincible, sire. It is steam; for, when water has
become expanded in steam, it demands a much more extensive area than
that which it occupies in its natural form; and in order to take that
space it would blow up mountains. By my invention this force is
confined; the machine is provided with wheels, which beat the sea and
propel a vessel as swiftly as the wind, so that tempests cannot resist
its course. Voyages can be made in safety and so swiftly that there is
no limit to speed excepting in the revolution of the wheels.
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