Per. Never.—­There, Judas, take your hire of blood again.
                                                [Throws him a purse.

Har.  Jun. Your reason for this sudden change?

Per. I cannot own the name of man, and do it.

Har.  Jun. Your head shall answer the neglect of what you were commanded.

Per. If it must, I cannot shun my destiny.

Fisc. Harman, you are too rash; pray hear his reasons first.

Per. I have them to myself, I’ll give you none.

Fisc. None? that’s hard; well, you can be secret, captain, for your own sake, I hope?

Per. That I have sworn already, my oath binds me.

Fisc. That’s enough:  we have now chang’d our minds, and do not wish his death,—­at least as you shall know. [Aside.

Per. I am glad on’t, for he’s a brave and worthy gentleman; I would not for the wealth of both the Indies have had his blood upon my soul to answer.

Fisc. [Aside to HARMAN.] I shall find a time to take back our secret from him, at the price of his life, when he least dreams of it; meantime ’tis fit we speak him fair. [To PEREZ.] Captain, a reward attends you, greater than you could hope; we only meant to try your honesty.  I am more than satisfied of your reasons.

Per. I still shall labour to deserve your kindness in any honourable way. [Exit PEREZ.

Har.  Jun. I told you that this Spaniard had not courage enough for such an enterprise.

Fisc. He rather had too much of honesty.

Har.  Jun. Oh, you have ruined me; you promised me this day the death of Towerson, and now, instead of that, I see him happy!  I’ll go and fight him yet; I swear he never shall enjoy her.

Fisc. He shall not, that I swear with you; but you are too rash, the business can never be done your way.

Har.  Jun. I’ll trust no other arm but my own with it.

Fisc. Yes, mine you shall, I’ll help you.  This evening, as he goes from the castle, we’ll find some way to meet him in the dark, and then make sure of him for getting maidenheads to-night; to-morrow I’ll bestow a pill upon my Spanish Don, lest he discover what he knows.

Har.  Jun. Give me your hand, you’ll help me.

Fisc. By all my hopes I will:  in the mean time, with a feigned mirth ’tis fit we gild our faces; the truth is, that we may smile in earnest, when we look upon the Englishman, and think how we will use him.

Har.  Jun. Agreed; come to the castle. [Exeunt.

SCENE III.—­The Castle.

  Enter HARMAN Senior, TOWERSON, and ISABINDA, BEAMONT, COLLINS,
  VAN HERRING. They seat themselves.