SCENE II.—_Outside GIL PEREZ’S House at Salvatierra; as in ACT I. SCENE
I._
_Enter ISABEL and CASILDA._
_Isab._ What! Donna Leonor d’Alvarado, come to Salvatierra?
_Cas._ Yes.
_Isab._ And for what purpose?
_Cas._ They say, to avenge her brother’s death. I myself have seen her conferring with Juan Baptista.
_Isab._ And what do you infer from that?
_Cas._ He is, they say, chief witness against Don Alonso and your brother, for this murder.
_Isab._ Against my brother too! O Casilda, is it not shameful that Juan Baptista should revenge with slanders behind my brother’s back whom he dares not meet face to face! Nay, that a traitor be revenged at all on him he has betrayed! thriving here at home while my brother is banisht!
_Cas._ But there’s something else. He charges your brother’s friend Manuel with murdering his men.
_Isab._ In proving which, my honour must be publicly canvassed and compromised!
_Enter PEDRO._
_Ped._ Oh, what a long way it has seemed; as it will when fear fetters one’s legs. Oh, permit me, madam, since fate has sent me back to your feet, to kiss but the little toe, the pink, the pearl, the petty Benjamin of those ten toes. But above all, tell me, for Heaven’s sake, is my master here?
_Isab._ No, Pedro, you at least are safe. He, alas, is far away.
_Ped._ So one might think; but yet on the other hand I’d swear he must be here.
_Isab._ Pedro!
_Ped._ Oh yes, his sole vocation now is to dodge my steps like some avenging ghost of _Capa and Espada_.
_Enter JUAN BAPTISTA._
_Bapt._ (_speaking to himself_). If they condemn him To death, as, on my evidence alone, They must, he’ll not return to plague me more At Salvatierra. But, fair Isabel, How blest am I on whom the star of beauty, Bright rival of the sun, Beams out such rays of love!
_Isab._ Stand off! Away! Not rays of love, whatever heretofore I and my beauty may have beam’d, Baptista, But now, if rays at all, lightnings of rage And indignation from my heart and eyes. Approach them at your peril! What, false traitor, You come to court me with my brother’s blood Upon you, shed too in no manly duel, Face to face, hand to hand, in the open field, But like a murderer, Behind his back stabbing him dead with slander— Never!
[_Exit._
_Bapt._ But, Isabel!
_Cas._ Your day is over.
[_Exit._
_Bapt._ And that I should lose her by the very means I hoped to win her with!
_Ped._ Let not this prevent your memory acknowledging one who has suffered banishment, and lives in terror of his life, on your account.
_Bapt._ Pedro!
_Ped._ And at your service.
_Bapt._ Ah, would you were!
_Ped._ Try me.
_Bapt._ But are you still Isabel’s servant?
_Ped._ I trust so.
_Bapt._ Oh, good Pedro, I would fain explain to her, and wipe out (as I easily can) the offence she has taken against me; and if you will but be my friend, and leave the door ajar to-night, that I may tell her the whole story, I’ll pay you well for it.
_Ped._ Well, I think there can be no danger in that. Why, if you should happen to call loudly outside the door to-night, and I let you in, forgetting to ask who it is—surely I shall not be to blame.
_Bapt._ Tis well; the sun is already setting; go you to your post, and I shall be at mine immediately.
[_Exeunt severally._