The Jewel Merchants. A Comedy in One Act

GRACIOSA I am sorry to learn that this Eglamore is among your patrons.

GUIDO (Still half engrossed by the contents of his pack. The man loves jewels equally for their value and their beauty.) Oh, the nobles complain of him, but we merchants have no quarrel with Eglamore. He buys too lavishly.

GRACIOSA Do you think only of buying and selling, Guido?

GUIDO It is a pursuit not limited to us who frankly live by sale and purchase .Count Eglamore, for example, knows that men may be bought as readily as merchandise. It is one reason why he is so hated—by the unbought.

GRACIOSA (Irritated by the title.) Count Eglamore, indeed! I ask in my prayers every night that some honest gentleman may contrive to cut the throat of this abominable creature.

GUIDO (His hand going to his throat.) You pray too much, madonna. Even very pious people ought to be reasonable.

GRACIOSA (Rising from the bench.) Have I not reason to hate the man who killed my kinsman?

GUIDO (Rising from his gems.) The Marquis of Cibo conspired, or so the court judged—

GRACIOSA I know nothing of the judgment. But it was this Eglamore who discovered the plot, if there indeed was any plot, and who sent my cousin Cibo to a death—(pointing to the shrine)—oh, to a death as horrible as that. So I hate him.

GUIDO Yet you have never even seen him, I believe?

GRACIOSA And it would be better for him never to see me or any of my kin. My father, my uncles and my cousins have all sworn to kill him—

GUIDO So I have gathered. They remain among the unbought.

GRACIOSA (Returning, sits upon the bench, and speaks regretfully.) But they have never any luck. Cousin Pietro contrived to have a beam dropped on Eglamore's head, and it missed him by not half a foot—

GUIDO Ah, yes, I remember.

GRACIOSA And Cousin Georgio stabbed him in the back one night, but the coward had on chain-armor under his finery—

GUIDO I remember that also.

GRACIOSA And Uncle Lorenzo poisoned his soup, but a pet dog got at it first. That was very unfortunate.

GUIDO Yes, the dog seemed to think so, I remember.

GRACIOSA However, perseverance is always rewarded. So I still hope that one or another of my kinsmen will contrive to kill this Eglamore before I go to court.

GUIDO (Sits at her feet.) Has my Lord Balthazar yet set a day for that presentation?

GRACIOSA Not yet.

GUIDO I wish to have this Eglamore's accounts all settled by that date.

GRACIOSA But in three months, Guido, I shall be sixteen. My sisters went to court when they were sixteen.

GUIDO In fact, a noble who is not rich cannot afford to continue supporting a daughter who is salable in marriage.

GRACIOSA No, of course not. (She speaks in the most matter-of-fact tone possible. Then, more impulsively, the girl slips down from the bench, and sits by him on the around.) Do you think I shall make as good a match as my sisters, Guido? Do you think some great rich nobleman will marry me very soon? And shall I like the court! What shall I see there?

GUIDO Marvels. I think—yes, I am afraid that you will like them.

GRACIOSA And Duke Alessandro—shall I like him?

GUIDO Few courtiers have expressed dislike of him in my presence.

GRACIOSA Do you like him? Does he too buy lavishly?

GUIDO Eh, madonna! some day, when you have seen his jewels—

GRACIOSA Oh! I shall see them when I go to court?

GUIDO Yes, he will show them to you, I think, without fail, for the Duke loves beauty in all its forms. So he will take pleasure in confronting the brightness of your eyes with the brightness of the four kinds of sapphires, of the twelve kinds of rubies, and of many extraordinary pearls—

GRACIOSA (With eyes shining, and lips parted.) Oh!

GUIDO And you will see his famous emerald necklace, and all his diamonds, and his huge turquoises, which will make you ashamed of your poor talisman—

GRACIOSA He will show all these jewels to me!

GUIDO (Looking at her, and still smiling thoughtfully.) He will show you the very finest of his gems, assuredly. And then, worse still, he will be making verses in your honor.

GRACIOSA It would be droll to have a great duke making songs about me!