The court is an odd place, I should like to succeed
there; how is it to be done? By impudence? I have enough of that to
sell! By trickery? Why, the king believes my tale of the Virgen del
Pilar. (He laughs) But what is my master thinking about?
Fontanares
Let us start at once.
Quinola
For what place?
Fontanares
For Barcelona.
Quinola
No--for a tavern. If the air of the court gives the citizens a good
appetite, it makes me devilish thirsty. After a drink, my glorious
master, you will see your Quinola a very busy man; for we must not
delude ourselves. Between the word of the king and the attainment of
success, we shall meet with as many jealous philosophers, scheming
tricksters, malicious cavillers, crooked, rapacious, greedy beasts of
prey, thievish parasites as have ever beset you in your attempts to
see the king.
Fontanares
Yet to obtain my Marie I must succeed.
Quinola
Yes, and for our own sakes also.
Curtain to the Prologue.
ACT I
SCENE FIRST
(The scene is Barcelona. The stage represents a public place. On the
left of the spectator appear houses, among which that of Lothundiaz
stands at the corner of the street. To the right is the palace of
Senora Brancadori. The time is night, but the day begins to dawn.)
Monipodio (wrapped in a mantle, seated under the balcony of the
Brancadori palace), Quinola (who glides forth cautiously like a thief,
and brushes against Monipodio).
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