SCENE II.—_A Room in FELIX’S House.

_FELIX and HERNANDO._

_Hern._ Not going to see the Entry, sir?

_Fel._ What use going to a festival if one has no spirits for it?

_Hern._ Humph, what makes you out of spirits?

_Fel._ Why should you ask?

_Hern._ Nay, then, you have already answer’d me. You are in love.

_Fel._ I scarce know whether you are right or wrong, Hernando. I have indeed seen a lady whose very beauty forbids all hope of my attaining it.

_Hern._ How so, sir?

_Fel._ She who has enslaved Don Juan and Don Pedro has fetter’d me, at last! I should care little for their rivalry, had not each made me keeper of his love, so that—Hark!

_Mari Nuño_ (_within_). Don Felix!

_Fel._ Who is that?

_Hern._ Some one calling you.

_Mari._ (_within_). Señor Don Felix!

_Fel._ Well?

_Mari._ (_within_). From Donna Eugenia!

[_A letter is thrown in at the window._

_Fel._ From Eugenia! (_Reads._) ‘Grateful to you for your advice, I have already begun to follow it; but, in order to that, I must see you once again, this evening! Adieu!’ Here’s a dilemma! For if—

_Hern._ Don Juan!

_Enter JUAN._

_Juan_ (_aside_). What was that?

_Fel._ Don Juan back, When such a festival—

_Juan._ And you? Oh, Felix, I know not how to speak or hold my tongue!

_Fel._ A riddle! How is that?

_Juan._ Why, if I speak I needs must anger you; if not, myself.

_Fel._ I do not understand it yet.

_Juan._ Nor I; Yet if you give me leave (as leave they give To children and to fools to say their mind) I’ll say mine.

_Fel._ Surely say it.

_Juan._ Tell me then— That letter I saw flying in at the window As I came up, what was it?

_Fel._ That of all That you could ask, Juan, I cannot answer— Must not—relying on our old regard For fair construction.

_Juan._ I believe it, Felix: Yet seeing that you first excused yourself From helping on my suit, upon the score Of other obligation; and that now, Ev’n now, but a few wretched minutes back, Eugenia herself, in the public street, Forbad me from her carriage angrily From following her more—What can I think But that she loves another? when besides, Coming back suddenly, I hear her name Whisper’d—oh what so loud as an ill whisper!— By you, and see a letter too thrown in, Which on my coming up confused you hide, And will not say from whom—I say, Don Felix, What can I think?

_Fel._ (_aside_). And I, what can I do? Who, even if I may excuse myself, Must needs embroil Don Pedro!

_Juan._ Answer me.

_Fel._ Have I not answer’d you sufficiently, In saying that my old and well-tried love Should well excuse my silence?

_Juan._ I confess Your love, old and well-tried as you profess; And on that very score ask of you, Felix, What you would do if one as true and tried In a like case seal’d up his lips to you.

_Fel._ Leave them unlockt in fullest confidence.

_Juan._ Alas! how much, much easier to give Than follow ev’n the counsel one implores! Felix, in pity I entreat of you, Show me that letter!

_Fel._ Gladly should you see it If no one but myself were implicate.

_Juan._ There _is_ then some one else?

_Fel._ There is.

_Juan._ Who else?

_Fel._ That’s what I cannot tell you.

_Juan._ Dare not trust A friend as true to you as you to him?

_Fel._ In anything but this.

_Juan._ What can this do But aggravate my worst suspicions?

_Fel._ I cannot help it.

_Juan._ I must tell you then My friendship for you, Felix, may defer, But not forgo, the reading of that letter.

_Fel._ I am sorry, sir, your friendship must abide In ignorance till doomsday.

_Juan._ You’ll not show it?

_Fel._ No, never.

_Juan._ Follow me, sir.

_Fel._ Where you please.

_As they are going out, enter PEDRO._

_Ped._ How now? Don Juan and Felix quarrelling?

_Fel._ Nay, only walking out.

_Ped._ What, walking out, With hands upon your swords and inflam’d faces? You shall not go.

_Hern._ That’s right, sir, keep them back, They were about—

_Fel._ Peace, rascal!

_Ped._ Friends may quarrel, But surely not to such extremity But that a third may piece the quarrel up Without the sword. The cause of your dispute?

_Fel._ I must be silent.

_Juan._ And so must not I; Who will not have it thought That I forgot my manners as a guest For any idle reason. You, Don Pedro, Though lately known to me, are a gentleman, And you shall hear my story.

_Fel._ Not a word, Or else—

_Ped._ Nay, Felix—

_Juan._ I will speak it out! Don Pedro, I confided to Don Felix, My friend and host, the love I long have borne For one with whom he could advance my suit, And promised so to do it; but instead, Yea, under the very mask of doing it, Has urged his own; has even now received A letter through that ready window thrown, He dares not show me; and to make all sure, I heard him whispering as I came upstairs, The very name of my Eugenia—

_Ped._ Hold! This is my quarrel. He who pretends to love Eugenia Must answer it to me.

_Juan._ Two rivals, then!

_Fel._ Two enemies grown out of two old friends By the very means I used to keep them so!

_Juan._ Keep them, indeed!

_Ped._ When with base treachery—

_Juan._ Hypocrisy—

_Ped._ Under the name of friend—

_Juan._ A pretty friend—

_Ped._ You robb’d me—

_Juan_ (_turning to PEDRO_). You! Dare _you_ Pretend—

_Ped._ (_to JUAN_). Dare _I!_ Dare _you_, sir?

_Fel._ Peace, I say, And hear me speak!

_Juan_ (_to FELIX_). The time is past for that. Follow me, sir.

_Ped._ No, _me_.

_Fel._ One, or the other, or together both, I’ll either lead or follow, nothing loath!

[_Exeunt wrangling._