Act I. Reception hall in the Governor's house. _Richard, Earl of

Warwick_, is giving an audience. _Oscar_, a page, brings him the list of guests invited to a masked ball. _Richard_ is especially delighted at seeing on it the name of _Amelia_, the wife of his secretary, _Reinhart_, although his conscience bitterly reproaches him for loving _Amelia_, for _Reinhart_ is his most faithful friend, ever ready to defend him. The secretary also has discovered a conspiracy against his master; but as yet has been unable to learn the names of the conspirators.

At the audience a judge is announced, who brings for signature the sentence of banishment against an old fortune teller, the negress _Ulrica_. _Oscar_, however, intercedes for the old woman. _Richard_ decides to visit her in disguise and test her powers of divination.

The scene changes to _Ulrica's_ hut, which _Richard_ enters disguised as a fisherman. Without his knowledge, _Amelia_ also comes to consult the negress. Concealed by a curtain he hears her ask for a magic herb to cure her of the love which she, a married woman, bears to _Richard_. The old woman tells her of such an herb, but _Amelia_ must gather it herself at midnight in the place where stands the gibbet. _Richard_ thus learns that she loves him, and of her purpose to be at the place of the gibbet at midnight. When she has gone he comes out of his concealment and has his fortune told. _Ulrica_ predicts that he will die by the hand of a friend. The conspirators, who are in his retinue, whisper among themselves that they are discovered. "Who will be the slayer?" asks Richard. The answer is, "Whoever first shall shake your hand." At this moment _Reinhart_ enters, greets his friend with a vigorous shake of the hand, and _Richard_ laughs at the evil prophecy. His retinue and the populace rejoice with him.