And not sufficiently with him--that is just. The duke took us for foul
assassins; we were simply asking him, at a rather too advantageous
hour, to make us a loan, pledged by our rapiers as collateral. The
famous Majoral, who was in command of us, being close pressed by the
duke, was forced to disable him by a little thrust, of which he knows
the secret.

The Marchioness
O! My God!--

Quinola
Happiness is cheap at such a cost, madame.

The Marchioness (aside)
Hush! He knows my secret.

Quinola
When we saw that the duke had not a maravedi about him, we left him
where he was. As I was the least culpable of all the gang, I was
charged to take him home; in adjusting his pockets, which had been
turned inside out, I found the letter which he had written to you,
and, learning your position at the court, I understood--

The Marchioness
That your fortune was made?

Quinola
Not at all--that my life was in danger.

The Marchioness