MAN. Ah, lift your veil. (tries to raise a corner of it.) I love you. Do you not realize that your youth, your beauty—
M. AUG. (suddenly tearing aside her vail.) Sir! (Manuel reels; recovers himself and rushes away; Mother Augustus veils herself and exits; enter Mariana veiled leaning upon the Marquis.)
MARQ. Have courage, Mariana. (enter pirates.)
1st PIR. (perceiving Mariana.) Ah,—won’t you give me that little silver ring, lady?—as a souvenir.
MAR. (covering the ring with her other hand.) Not that.
1st PIR. (laughs.) Even nuns, it seems, have their little bits of sentiment.
MAR. I will give you this jeweled cross.
1st PIR. Will you put it on my neck? (he bends his head and Mariana with trembling hands is about to put the chain around his neck when a tipsy fellow, with a glass in his hand, interferes.)
2d PIR. (pushing first pirate aside.) Let’s have impartiality. If I cannot have a jewel, I may have a look at her face. I’ll bet you it’s a pretty face. If I win, I get a kiss; if you win, you get my share of the booty.
PIRATES. Done.