MAN. (looking after Pedro angrily.) Confound it! Unconcerned about me now altogether,—has richer prospects in view.—I knew she wouldn’t get tired of it. Instead she’s going to take the veil. Curse me for a fool! Fortune played in my hands directly six years ago and I was soft-hearted and squeamish enough to be melted by a pair of pleading eyes and a half promise of yes, if Ferdinand should succeed. (rings bell.) I’ll have the Marquis, at all events, safely out of the way. (enter Darblee.)
DAR. Good morning, Don Manuel.
MAN. Good morning. I wish to engage a room for a business meeting between Lafitte and the Spanish merchants.
DAR. (eagerly; curiously.) You know?—
MAN. (sternly.) To-day, at two o’clock.
DAR. (relapsing into business.) The best?
MAN. Certainly.
DAR. It shall be ready. (exit.)
MAN. The Spanish merchants lost no time in instructing me to engage a room when they received word that Lafitte would see them at last, and listen to their plea for compromise. It doesn’t matter that I sent the message. And the Marquis, who isn’t a merchant, is as excited as any of them, because of his friends. He’ll attend the meeting, no fear, and I shall have put that much more time between him and any message from the convent.—Confound it all, why doesn’t that fellow come? (enter a stranger.) Ah, I was just beginning to think you late.
STRAN. I could only get this. (showing a rusty priest’s robe.)