Part 3 (1/2)

_Ant._ (_escaping from her, rubbing his ears_). O Lord! for tail read head. (_Aside._) This it is to have two wives. (_Aloud._) Why, Beppa, are you mad? How can I help it?

_Bep._ How can you help it!

_Ant._ Yes, how can I help it? I must obey my orders.

_Bep._ Obey your orders!

_Ant._ Yes, obey my orders, or lose my place. My master, who is amusing himself with a young lady, says to me, ”Antonio, that servant girl hangs about much in my way, you must make love to her.”

_Bep._ Make love to her!

_Ant._ Yes, make love to her. ”I'll be hanged if I do,” says I, thinking of my own sweet little Beppa. ”Then you will be starved if you don't,”

said he. And as I found that he did not mean to be in earnest, I thought that there could be no harm in a little by-play.

_Bep._ By-play!

_Ant._ Yes, by-play. Well, I refused long, for it went against my conscience. Then he took this purse of ten moidores, and said, ”Refuse me, and quit my service. Consent, and take this purse; the money will support your wife.”

_Bep._ (_s.n.a.t.c.hing the purse_). Now, am I to believe this?

_Ant._ Believe it! why, have you not the proofs? How should I possess ten moidores? Money is not to be had for nothing now-a-days. I meant to have told you all, but have not seen you since.

_Bep._ She called you Lopez?

_Ant._ She did. I would not give my name. No other shall call me ”Dear Antonio,” excepting my own true lawful wife!

_Bep._ (_turning away with indifference, and putting the purse in her pocket_). Well, allowing all this to be true, and that's of no great importance, what a villain is your master, sir, to pay his court unto another, when he vows fidelity to my mistress, Donna Serafina!

_Ant._ Upon my honour, I've enough to do to defend myself; though I must confess that his conduct is infamous.

_Bep._ I'll to my mistress, and make known his treachery? [_Going._

_Ant._ Do no such thing! Bad news, though true, is never paid for; but the purse opens when the tidings please, although they're false as----(_points down below_). What's your message?

_Bep._ My mistress dies to see him.

_Ant._ Tell her he'll come to-morrow evening. He said as much when last I saw him.

_Bep._ When last you saw him! Is he not here?

_Ant._ He's here, and there, and everywhere, and nowhere.

_Bep._ Where is he now?

_Ant._ That I don't know; but not here, that's certain.

[_Window opens, Gaspar calls loudly from within window--_

_Gasp._ Antonio!

_Ant._ Santa Maria! Yes, sir.

_Gasp._ Go to Castanos, and see if my guitar be strung.