Isaac. Ay, so they are—yes, yes, they are laughing at that dear friend he talked of—ay, poor devil, they have outwitted him.

Don Car. Now he’s kissing her hand.

Isaac. Yes, yes, faith, they’re agreed—he’s caught, he’s entangled. My dear Carlos, we have brought it about. Oh, this little cunning head! I’m a Machiavel—a very Machiavel!

Don Car. I hear somebody inquiring for you—I’ll see who it is.

[Exit.

Re-enter Don Antonio and Donna Louisa.

Don Ant. Well, my good friend, this lady has so entirely convinced me of the certainty of your success at Don Jerome’s, that I now resign my pretensions there.

Isaac. You never did a wiser thing, believe me; and, as for deceiving your friend, that’s nothing at all—tricking is all fair in love, isn’t it ma’am?

Don. Louisa. Certainly, sir; and I am particularly glad to find you are of that opinion.

Isaac. O Lud! yes, ma’am—let any one outwit me that can, I say! But here, let me join your hands. There, you lucky rogue! I wish you happily married, from the bottom of my soul!

Don. Louisa. And I am sure, if you wish it, no one else should prevent it.

Isaac. Now, Antonio, we are rivals no more; so let us be friends, will you?

Don Ant. With all my heart, Isaac.

Isaac. It is not every man, let me tell you, that would have taken such pains, or been so generous to a rival.

Don Ant. No, ’faith, I don’t believe there’s another beside yourself in all Spain.

Isaac. Well, but you resign all pretensions to the other lady?

Don Ant. That I do, most sincerely.

Isaac. I doubt you have a little hankering there still.

Don Ant. None in the least, upon my soul.

Isaac. I mean after her fortune.

Don Ant. No, believe me. You are heartily welcome to every thing she has.

Isaac. Well, i’faith, you have the best of the bargain, as to beauty, twenty to one. Now I’ll tell you a secret—I am to carry off Louisa this very evening.

Don. Louisa. Indeed!

Isaac. Yes, she has sworn not to take a husband from her father’s hand—so I’ve persuaded him to trust her to walk with me in the garden, and then we shall give him the slip.

Don. Louisa. And is Don Jerome to know nothing of this?