SCENE I. Six years later. L’Hotel des Exiles; New Orleans. A large, dark-paneled, low-ceilinged room. Enter Leon Duval and Pedro.
DUV. You resided in Spain until within the last few years, did you not?
PED. Yes; our family belonged to Ferdinand’s Court, but when His Majesty was overthrown, our fortunes all suffering in the downfall, my uncle removed to New Orleans.
DUV. Where your own overthrow was completed by Cupid. To be frank with you, you are perfectly eligible to my daughter’s hand;—I like you—but owing to her youth and the great wealth that will be hers, (she is my sole heir) I am constrained to caution. Personally, the weight of my authority will be in your favor, but in the meantime we must wait until you have money enough to raise you in worldly minds above the suspicion of fortune hunting.
PED. For your frankness, even though it wound me, I thank you. My only protest arises from suspense lest in the interim Bella should prefer another; even that she may prefer another now.
DUV. I have never had any trouble with women, no matter who the woman. All that is necessary is to coax them in the proper way, so as to make them think they are yielding through grace and not necessity.
PED. A rare art.
DUV. An easy one. I pledge you my word that Bella will wed as I dictate. (enter several legislators and politicians.)
1st POL. It is plain to see that the British have designs on this city.