Act III. A salon in the Palace of the Alcazar. In a brief scene the

_King_ informs his minister that he has decided to heed the behest of the church and refrain from braving the Papal malediction. He bids _Gaspar_ send _Leonora_ to him, but, at the first opportunity, to arrest _Inez_, her accomplice.

It is at this juncture, as _Gaspar_ departs, that _Ferdinand_ appears at court, returning from the war, in which he has not only distinguished himself by his valour, but actually has saved the kingdom. _Alfonso_ asks him to name the prize which he desires as recompense for his services. _Leonora_ enters. _Ferdinand_, seeing her, at once asks for the bestowal of her hand upon him in marriage. The _King_, who loves her deeply, and has nearly risked the wrath of the Pope for her sake, nevertheless, because immediately aware of the passion between the two, gives his assent, but with reluctance, as indeed appears from the irony that pervades his solo, "A tanto amor" (Thou flow'r belov'd).

He then retires with _Ferdinand_.

_Leonora_, touched by the _King's_ magnanimity, inspired by her love for _Ferdinand_, yet shaken by doubts and fears, because aware that he knows nothing of her past, now expresses these conflicting feelings in her principal air, "O, mio Fernando," one of the great Italian airs for mezzo-soprano.

[Music: O, mio Fernando, della terra il trono]

She considers that their future happiness depends upon _Ferdinand's_ being truthfully informed of what her relations have been with the _King_, thus giving him full opportunity to decide whether, with this knowledge of her guilt, he will marry her, or not. Accordingly she despatches _Inez_ with a letter to him. _Inez_, as she is on her way to deliver this letter, is intercepted by _Gaspar_, who carries out the _King's_ command and orders her arrest. She is therefore unable to place in _Ferdinand's_ hands the letter of _Leonora_.

Into the presence of the assembled nobles the _King_ now brings _Ferdinand_, decorates him with a rich chain, and announces that he has created him Count of Zamora. The jealous lords whisper among themselves about the scandal of _Ferdinand's_ coming marriage with the mistress of the _King_; but _Leonora_, who enters in bridal attire, finds _Ferdinand_ eagerly awaiting her, and ready to wed her, notwithstanding, as she believes, his receipt of her communication and complete knowledge of her past.

While the ceremony is being performed in another apartment, the nobles discuss further the disgrace to _Ferdinand_ in this marriage. That _Leonora_ was the mistress of the _King_ is, of course, a familiar fact at court, and the nobles regard _Ferdinand's_ elevation to the rank of nobility as a reward, not only for his defeat of the Moors, but also for accommodatingly taking _Leonora_ off the hands of the _King_, when the latter is threatened with the malediction of Rome. They cannot imagine that the young officer is ignorant of the relations that existed between his bride and the _King_.

_Ferdinand_ re-enters. In high spirits he approaches the courtiers, offers them his hand, which they refuse. _Balthazar_ now comes to learn the decision of the _King_. _Ferdinand_, confused by the taunting words and actions of the courtiers, hastens to greet _Balthazar_, who, not having seen him since he has returned victorious and loaded with honours, embraces him, until he hears _Gaspar's_ ironical exclamation, "Leonora's bridegroom!" _Balthazar_ starts back, and it is then _Ferdinand_ learns that he has just been wedded "alla bella del Re"--to the mistress of the _King_.

At this moment, when _Ferdinand_ has but just been informed of what he can only interpret as his betrayal by the _King_ and the royal favourite, _Alfonso_ enters, leading _Leonora_, followed by her attendants. In a stirring scene, the dramatic climax of the opera, _Ferdinand_ tears from his neck the chain _Alfonso_ has bestowed upon him, and throws it contemptuously upon the floor, breaks his sword and casts it at the _King's_ feet, then departs with _Balthazar_, the nobles now making a passage for them, and saluting, while they sing

"Ferdinand, the truly brave, We salute, and pardon crave!"