Faustine, Fregose, Avaloros, Fontanares, Quinola and Monipodio.
Avaloros I have studied you well, young man, and you have a great heart—a heart firm as steel. Steel will always be the master of gold. Let us frankly form a copartnership; I will pay your debts, buy up all that has been sold, give you and Quinola five thousand ducats, and, at my instance, the viceroy will be willing to forget your freedom with him.
Fontanares
If, in my distress, I have ever failed in respect towards you, senor,
I beg you will pardon me.
Don Fregose That is quite sufficient, senor. Don Fregose does not easily take offence.
Faustine
You have done well, my lord.
Avaloros Thus you see, young man, that tempest is succeeded by calm, and at present all things smile upon you. The next thing for us to do is to unite, you and I, in fulfilling your promises to the king.
Fontanares I care not for fortune excepting for one reason; shall I be enabled to wed Marie Lothundiaz?
Don Fregose
Is she the only woman in the world you love?
Fontanares
The only one.
(Faustine and Avaloros talk together.)