BELLA. Baptiste—
DAR. Oh, of course, he won’t be punished.
BELLA. (dejectedly.) I’m afraid our chances will be smaller than ever now.
DAR. I hear there are some extra fine terrapin in the market, just sent in from Bayou Teche. I’ll go see if there be any left. A few of them will restore your father’s good humor. (bows; exit; enter Duval.)
DUV. Scoundrel!—Come. (exeunt Duval and Bella; enter Mariana.)
MAR. (exultant; nervous; wretched; looks around.) No one here. (looks at her watch.) Long before the time. So much the better. I need a little rest.—If only he had not escaped!... I wonder (looking scornfully at mask.) if you are still busy? Did you send some human ear into your mask to warn your fellow pirates of the burning of Barataria? (mockingly.) I will listen now. Perhaps you wish me to save them. (exit to back of mask; looks through it; enter Duval and Pedro, the latter out of sight of the mask eyes.)
MAN. (excitedly.) You had my father murdered!
PED. (sneeringly.) Did he favor your suit so much that you regret him? (Mariana starts; noise in the niche.)
MAN. What was that?—(irritably.) Your interference in my behalf has been too costly.
PED. (contemptuously and intolerantly.) Did I not take my own medicine? Was I not very nearly killed in Barataria by Lafitte’s order? Would I not have been killed but for the fact that Father Cuthbert unloaded the guns?