Faustine
Pray tell me, who are you?
Mathieu Magis
Mathieu Magis, a poor Lombard of Milan, at your service.
Faustine
You lend money?
Mathieu Magis I lend it on good security—diamonds or gold—a very poor business. Our losses are overwhelming, senora. And at present money seems actually to be asleep. The raising of maravedis is the hardest of farm-labor. One unfortunate deal carries off the profits of ten lucky strokes, for we risk a thousand doubloons in the hands of a prodigal for three hundred doubloons profit. The world is very unjust to us.
Faustine
Are you a Jew?
Mathieu Magis
In what sense do you mean?
Faustine
In religion.
Mathieu Magis
I am a Lombard and a Catholic, senora.
Faustine
You disappoint me.
Mathieu Magis
Senora would have wished—