SCENE III.--_Study of Don Silvio. D. Silvio is discovered pacing up and

down dejectedly._

D. SIL. The day wears on, and still there is no sign Of Pedro and my daughter. 'Tis full time. It wants an hour to sundown; and ere then I dread another visit from Don Diego; Before this sand is spent he will be here. He never yet did come behind his time. Hark! I hear footsteps in the corridor. 'Tis he. He's come for news about my daughter. This the very night, too, of the wedding. What shall I say to him, or how shall I----?

_An abrupt knock at the door of the study, and enter_ DON DIEGO.

D. DIE. Well, friend Silvio, well. Art thou nigh prepared? Where is the gentle Inez? Bring her forth.

D. SIL. (_Humbly._) Worthy Don Diego, I do much regret My daughter Inez has not yet arrived.

D. DIE. Not yet arrived! Why it's long past the time.

D. SIL. I doubt not but what she will soon be here.

D. DIE. Soon! Didst thou say soon? Ay, marry ought she, An she left St. Ursula's at daybreak. Stay, this casement that opens towards the west Ought to command a wide extensive view. Lo! yonder lies the road that she should come; My sight is good, an yet I see no one. (_Suspiciously_) Hark ye, Don Silvio. Some new wile is this.

D. SIL. Nay, on mine honour, Diego. Think not thus. Be patient yet awhile and thou shalt see----

D. DIE. Patience! What, patience! But I'll have my bond.

_Enter_ RODRIGUEZ _frantically_.

ROD. Oh, holy Virgin and good saints in Heaven! Oh, blessed martyrs! Souls in Purgatory! Would that Rodriguez ne'er had seen this day! Oh, holy saints! Have mercy on us now!

D. SIL. How now, Rodriguez! What means all this riot?

ROD. Oh, peace! my master! Hold me ere I faint.

D. SIL. Speak! Rodriguez.

ROD. Alack! Alack! the day.

D. SIL. Nay, cease thy sobs, and more explicit be.

ROD. Oh, holy San Antonio be our guide! My master, what ill luck's befallen the house!

D. DIE. Explain thyself, vile hag, and prate no more!

ROD. Oh, mercy on us! I can't speak for sobbing. Oh, what disaster! Oh, what dire mishap! Help us, ye saints.

D. DIE. This is past all bearing! Speak out, thou limb of Satan, or I swear By the foul fiend that 'gat thee, I will force The lying words from out thy strumpet's throat.

ROD. Nay, good my liege, be calm. I'll tell you all. The Lady Inez----

D. DIE. Ha! and what of her?

ROD. In sooth, my lord, but I am very faint.

D. SIL. AND D. DIE. (_Angrily._) Speak out! Speak out! Alack! and well-a-day!

D. DIE. Zounds!

ROD. The Lady Inez and good Pedro Started from St. Ursula's this morning Upon their mules, and were about half-way Upon their journey, when from ambush sprang Some dusky ruffians of the gipsy band, Who, having bound, robbed, and detained the pair----

D. SIL. My daughter captured by the gipsies! Oh! [_Groans bitterly._

D. DIE. Foul hag, thou liest. Now hark ye, Silvio. This is some farce got up to play me false. But think not, sirrah, to elude me thus. [_Drawing his sword and seizing Don Silvio by the throat._

Traitor! tell me where hast hid thy daughter.

ROD. (_Rallying, and throwing herself between them._) Help! Murder! Help! Oh, help! What ho! Help! Help! Don Silvio to the rescue! Help! I say.

D. DIE. (_Leaving hold of Don Silvio, fells Rodriguez with the pommel of his sword._) Peace, harlot, or this blade shall make thee dumb. Arise, and tell me whence thou hadst this news. Beware now how thou tell me aught but truth, For by this hand! an thou dost play me false, I'll have thee burnt alive, or gibbetted From the highest turret of this castle.

ROD. My noble liege, would that it were not true. A hunter, an eye-witness of the scene, Did bring the news unto your servant Juan.

D. DIE. My servant Juan! Why, then the tale is true! No serf of mine would dare tell _me_ a lie. Go, call him hither.

ROD. He is at the door. [_Exit Rodriguez._

_Enter_ JUAN.

D. DIE. How now, Juan! Say, can this wild tale be true? What has happened to the Lady Inez?

JUAN. My lord, as I heard it you shall hear it. A certain hunter----

D. DIE. Stay, where is this man?

JUAN. He is without, my lord.

D. DIE. Then call him here. [_Exit Juan and re-enter with hunter._

HUNTER. (_Bowing to Don, Diego and Don Silvio._) My noble lords----

D. DIE. Hold! sirrah. Say, can'st thou Upon thy oath affirm, thy hopes of Heaven, That thou wert an eye-witness to this scene? If so, relate to us in fewest words How the case happened, and the where, the when.

HUNT. Then thus it came about, my liege. As I Was wandering, towards mid-day, among the Many rocks and fissures of these mountainous ranges, Armed with my carbine, in search of game, As is my daily wont, I came upon A deep ravine, yet hidden from my sight By thorns and bushes and like obstacles, When soon I heard the hum of human voices. The spot, if I may judge well, I should say Was half-way 'twixt St. Ursula's and here. Well, trampling down the brambles, I stood firm Upon the brink of a steep precipice; And lo! beneath me was the gipsy gang, And chief amongst them, one tall stately form, A woman's that would seem to be their queen.

D. DIE. (_Confused_) Ahem! Didst say the queen?

HUNT. Ay, my good lord. And 'mongst the tribe I saw as captives, soon, A gentle damsel and young cavalier.

D. DIE. How, sayest thou, Sirrah? A young cavalier! Sure, 'twas an aged servitor you saw.

HUNT. An aged serving-man, 'tis true, there was, And tightly-bound that he could not escape; I knew him instantly. 'Twas Pedro here, Don Silvio's servant.

D. SIL. Alas! alas! 'tis true. I was in hopes, When the hunter spoke of a young gallant, That he had mistaken some other travellers For my daughter Inez and my servant. But since he saith he knoweth Pedro----

D. DIE. Hold! The case is not quite clear to me e'en now, Silvio! Who's this gallant, as ye term him? Speak, for ye ought to know.

D. SIL. No, faith, not I.

D. DIE. Proceed then, hunter, with thy story. Quick.

HUNT. Well then, my lord, knowing good Pedro's face, I did presume that the young gentle pair Were visitors, bound for Don Silvio's castle.

D. DIE. (_Musingly._) Young gentle pair--ahem! Well, man, proceed.

HUNT. I watched in silence, and they saw me not; But still, from out my ambush I did take The whole scene in, and it appeared to me That the young knight must have resistance made, For low he lay, sore wounded in the head, While ever and anon the gentle maid Would dress his wound, and gaze with tearful eye And such a fond affection on her knight.

D. DIE. (_Aside to Don Silvio._) Traitor, thou shalt account to me for this. (_Aloud to Hunter._) Well, man, proceed. Hast thou ought more to say?

HUNT. But little good, my lord; but as I stood Watching this trusting, loving, pair----

D. DIE. (_Aside._) Damnation!

HUNT. I thought my heart would bleed from tenderness.

D. DIE. (_Laughs diabolically_). Ha, ha! Ha, ha!

HUNT. So, rising to my feet, But still unseen of any, I did haste, As was my bounden duty, to this castle, T'inform my lord, Don Silvio, of the fate Impending both his servant and his guests.

D. DIE. Good; look ye, fellow. An thy tale be true, Prepare to marshal me the way thyself, Without loss of a moment, and may be That thou shalt taste my bounty.

HUNT. Good, my lord; The sun hath set, and it is growing dark.

D. DIE. No matter, thou shalt have the better pay.

HUNT. As my lord wills.

D. DIE. And Juan, see my charger Be forthwith saddled. Bid my men-at-arms To mount, armed cap-a-pie; whilst such amongst The populace as thou canst muster, quick Arm thou with pikes and loaded carabines, And bid them follow me, their lord, Don Diego. Lose not one precious moment, but set forth. [_Exeunt Juan and Hunter._ What, gipsies! vagrants! bastard heathen dogs! _I'll_ clear the country of this filthy scum, Were it but for the sake of Christendom; Maybe that some day they will dub me saint. [_Exit._

[_Don Silvio makes a gesture of despair, and curtain falls._

END OF ACT II.