Olla Podrida. Фредерик Марриет
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Perez steps before him. Gaspar moves on one side and Perez again intercepts him.
Gasp. Don Perez, at first I imagined this was accident, but now your conduct will admit no such interpretation. Do you dispute my passage?
Perez. I do—until we have had some little parley.
Gasp. Then, sir, your parley. Be brief. Indeed, I know not what there is between us that demands it.
Perez. I believe, Don Gaspar, that you woo a lady.
Gasp. 'Tis not impossible.
Perez. You will oblige me if you cease to woo.
Gasp. Don Perez, I never brook affront. What has already passed demands a deadly meeting. But to reply to your strange request, who is the lady I am commanded not to woo, and upon what grounds?
Perez. The lady is the Donna Serafina—I grant a fickle, yet a lovely one. You call yourself Don Gaspar. Who is this Don Gaspar that ruffles thus with our nobility? Detail your ancestry and lineage. Of what family are you? Where are your possessions? show me the patent of your descent or else——
Gasp. Or else, Don Perez?
Perez. I publish you through Seville!
Gasp. Then do it quickly; you've no time to lose. First let me tell you, sir, that had not reasons, and those the most cogent ones, forced me to hide my quality, I had not so long submitted to the doubts which are abroad. Still my secret is mine own and shall remain so. Who and what I am, Don Perez, you shall never know. You have not long to live; and now, sir, let me pass. We meet again when least you wish it.
Felix. Perez, indeed you are to blame. Don Gaspar has the right of every man to wear the incognito, either from choice or from necessity. He has never intruded on your company, bears himself correctly, and wears the form and stamp of true nobility. Thus much in justice must I say. If you must quarrel let your cause be good.
Gasp. Sir, I thank you (bowing to Don Felix).
Perez. Still do I hold my words, and challenge him impostor!
Gasp. Did you retract them it would not avail. But time is pressing, and I cannot wait.
Perez. When do we meet again?
Gasp. I said before, when least you wish it. (To Don Felix) Signor, farewell! [Exit Gaspar.
Perez. By heavens! I hold him craven! Do you think that I shall hear from him?
Felix. Hear from him! I saw no signs of fear, but much of rage, and that but ill suppressed. In faith he is a noble cavalier! You'll hear, and see, and suffer from him too, or I mistake.
Perez. What did he say? when least I wished it?
Felix. Those were his words.
Perez. They're pregnant with some meaning.
Felix. No doubt—we'll ravel out this mystery as we walk. Come to the Prado: this smiling day will bring the fair ones forth. Come, come! [Exeunt.
Scene IV.
A Street before Anselmo's Lodgings.
Enter Antonio.
What with the messages from my master's two mistresses, I am not a little puzzled to keep my two wives apart. I have spread a report of my absence by another channel, which will reach Nina; and, unless she comes for my effects, which Beppa surely would, there is no fear. Now must I wait for Sancho.
Enter Beppa.
Bep. One is as sure to find you standing here, as to find the figure of our lady in the church.
Ant. I wish the likeness went further, and that the same presents were offered to me. I should be rich.
Bep. You will never be rich. You are not honest.
Ant. It is my poverty has made me otherwise.
Bep. And while you are otherwise you will be poor. You shut the only gate by which riches can enter.
Ant. And yet, good wife, I have occasionally seen great rogues amass great wealth.
Bep. Castles built upon the sand, without a good foundation!—a pile of industry heaped up in vain. But I have known you long, and it is useless to reason with you.
Ant. Pray, may I ask, what has made you in such a sermonising humour to-day?
Bep. No; but you may hear why I am come to you. I am sent to know if your rogue of a master comes to my lady to-night.
Ant. He does, to the best of my knowledge, and belief.
Enter Sancho.
Ant. Sancho, I have been waiting for you (to Sancho aside). I'll speak to you directly (pointing to Beppa).
Bep. I'm sure there is mischief. I'll stay to plague him.
Ant. Well, Beppa, you have your answer, and I have no doubt but Donna Serafina is impatient.
Bep. She may be: but, Antonio, I want to put a question to you, now that I am here; who is that girl with whom I caught you the other day—that Nina!
San. Saint Petronila! caught him with Nina? Why he's a married man and your husband.
Bep. I know he is, to my misfortune. Yet still he makes love to other women. I caught him kissing her.
Ant. (aside). Confound her!
San. Kissing her! (To Antonio) Your most obedient! Then I understand why you fought her husband.
Bep. Fought her husband did you say?
San. Yes, and killed him—a dirty rascal, whose name was——
Ant. (putting his hand on Sancho's mouth). Your honour, Sancho! recollect your oath!
San. I had forgotten. Saint Petronila, refresh my memory! But this requires some little explanation.
Ant. And you shall have it, but not now. All's right.
San. All's right?
Ant. (aside to Sancho). Yes—this woman's jealous of her. As soon as she is gone I will explain the whole.
Bep. (aside). Now are there knavish tricks in practice. (Aloud) You know this Nina—this girl of his?
San. Why, yes—I know the woman.
Bep. Then if you do, tell her she's a shameless wanton, thus to seduce a married man, and that Antonio's wife will spoil her beauty if she come across her. You understand me?
San. Why, yes; it is very plain, by Saint Petronila!
Bep. Husband, farewell. I trust you'll mend your ways. [Exit Beppa.
Ant. Cursed jealous cockatrice! Why, Sancho, you are serious.
San. Why, yes, a little. I thought you were my friend, but if you are only doing a friendly act for Nina in getting her a husband——
Ant. My dear Sancho, I'll explain it all. Nina is virtuous. It was her husband that she kissed, and this alone has made that woman jealous.
San. Why should she be jealous of Nina's kissing her own husband?
Ant. Because that husband had my livery on; and Beppa swears 'twas I. When Lopez arrived here he wanted a situation, but his clothes were so shabby, he could not offer himself to any gentleman. I lent him a suit of mine, a very good one too, and yet the wretch had the ingratitude to quarrel with me, although dressed in my