Episode 3

Jessica was sitting at her writing desk. She was writing a letter to Lorenzo, and from time to time she sighed. She looked up when Launcelot came into the room, and smiled. For her, Launcelot was more like a friend than a servant.

“Oh, Launcelot, I'm very glad to See you,” she said. “I am so tired of living in this house. Nothing ever happens, and my father is strict.”

She sighed again. She did not like her father very much. She knew that nobody in Venice liked him. This was because he lent money with interest, but also because they thought Shylock was mean and greedy. He seemed to love money more than people, and more than anything else in the world.

“I want you to take this letter to Lorenzo,” she said. “But do not tell anybody about it.”

“Of course, my lady,” said Launcetot. “I will keep it a secret.” He put the letter in his pocket.

“With this letter, you are helping me to escape,” Jessica said. “I am going to marry Lorenzo as soon as I can, and in this letter I tell him about my plan. Soon, Lorenzo and I will be together, and I can forget all about this house. It’s a terrible thing, to be ashamed of your father, but I am. He is a horrible man, and | will be glad to leave him.”

Launcelot left at once. He found Lorenzo, who was with his friends Gratiano, Salarino and Salanio. They were talking quietly together. Launcelot gave Lorenzo Jessica’s letter. Lorenzo read it and smiled.

“Tell Jessica that I will keep my promise,” he said. “But tell her in secret. No one else must hear.” Launcelot nodded and walked away quickly.

“Tonight, Shylock will not be in his house,” Lorenzo told his friends. “Jessica will disguise herself as a boy, and she will wait at home for us to come. She will bring some of Shylock’s gold and jewels. We will have all the money we need, and we will sail with Bassanio when he leaves for Belmont.”

That night, the four friends went quietly to Shylock’s house. From her bedroom window, Jessica handed them down a box full of gold and jewels. Then she used a tree to climb down to the men waiting below. She could not look at Lorenzo.

“I am embarrassed,” she said, “because I am wearing boys’ clothes.”

“Do not worry, Jessica my dear,” said Lorenzo. “I love you, whatever clothes you are wearing.”

“It is true,” said Jessica. “Love is blind, and lovers cannot see.”

“Now, my love, we must hurry. We haven’t got much time,” said Lorenzo. “Bassanio’s ship is sailing very soon.”