(Aside) She shall be
put in a convent.
Quinola (aside)
She is the enemy. She loves me so much that she can't help doing us a
great deal of harm. (Exit.)
SCENE EIGHTH
Faustine and Fregose.
Fregose
While you expect the master, you spend your time in corrupting the
servant.
Faustine
Can a woman ever lose her habit of seduction?
Fregose
Senora, you are ungenerous; I should think that a patrician lady of
Venice would know how to spare the feelings of an old soldier.
Faustine
Come, my lord, you presume more upon your white hair than a young man
would presume upon his fairest locks, and you find in them a stronger
argument than in--(She laughs). Let me have no more of this petulance.
Fregose
How can I be otherwise than vexed when you compromise yourself thus,
you, whom I wish to be my wife? Is it nothing to have a chance of
bearing one of the noblest of names?
Faustine
Do you think it is too noble for a Brancadori?
Fregose
Yet, you would prefer stooping to a Fontanares!
Faustine
But what if he could raise himself as high as to a Brancadori? That
would be a proof of love indeed! Besides, as you know from your own
experience, love never reasons.
Fregose
Ah! You acknowledge that!
Faustine
Your friendship to me is so great that you have been the first to
learn my secret.
Fregose
Senora! Yes, love is madness! I have surrendered to you more than
myself! Alas, I wish I had the world to offer you.
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