Asks mercy for thee, prays for mercy for thee,With tears in heaven!
Albert. Albert was not murder’d.
Your foster-mother ——
Maria. And doth she know aught? 140
Albert. She knows not aught — but haste thou to her cottage
Tomorrow early — bring Lord Velez with thee.
There ye must meet me — but your servants come.
Maria (wildly). Nay — nay — but tell me!
[A pause — then presses her forehead.
Ah! ‘tis lost again!
This dead confused pain! [A pause — she gazes at ALBERT.
Mysterious man! 145
Methinks, I cannot fear thee — for thine eye
Doth swim with pity — I will lean on thee.
[Exeunt ALBERT and MARIA.
Re-enter VELEZ and OSORIO.
Velez (sportively). You shall not see the picture, till you own
it.
Osorio. This mirth and raillery, sir! beseem your age.
I am content to be more serious. 150
Velez. Do you think I did not scent it from the first?
An excellent scheme, and excellently managed.
‘Twill blow away her doubts, and now she’ll wed you,
I’faith, the likeness is most admirable.
I saw the trick — yet these old eyes grew dimmer 155
With very foolish tears, it look’d so like him!
Osorio. Where should I get her portrait?
Velez. Get her portrait?
Portrait? You mean the picture! At the painter’s —
No difficulty then — but that you lit upon
A fellow that could play the sorcerer, 160
With such a grace and terrible majesty,
It was most rare good fortune. And how deeply
He seem’d to suffer when Maria swoon’d,
And half made love to her! I suppose you’ll ask me
Why did he so?
Osorio (with deep tones of suppressed agitation). Ay, wherefore
did he so? 165
Velez. Because you bade him — and an excellent thought!
A mighty man, and gentle as he is mighty.
He’ll wind into her confidence, and rout
A host of scruples — come, confess, Osorio!
Osorio. You pierce through mysteries with a lynx’s eye, 170
In this, your merry mood! you see it all!
Velez. Why, no! — not all. I have not yet discover’d,
At least, not wholly, what his speeches meant.
Pride and hypocrisy, and guilt and cunning —
Then when he fix’d his obstinate eye on you, 175
And you pretended to look strange and tremble.
Why — why — what ails you now?
Osorio (with a stupid stare). Me? why? what ails me?
A pricking of the blood — it might have happen’d
At any other time. Why scan you me?
Velez (clapping him on the shoulder). ‘Twon’t do—’twon’t do — I
have lived too long in the world. 180
His speech about the corse and stabs and murderers,
Had reference to the assassins in the picture:
That I made out.
Osorio (with a frantic eagerness). Assassins! what assassins!
Velez. Well-acted, on my life! Your curiosity
Runs open-mouth’d, ravenous as winter wolf. 185
I dare not stand in its way. [He shows OSORIO the picture.
Osorio. Dup’d — dup’d — dup’d!
That villain Ferdinand! (aside).
Velez. Dup’d — dup’d — not I.
As he swept by me ——
Osorio. Ha! what did he say?
Velez. He caught his garment up and hid his face.
It seem’d as he were struggling to suppress —— 190
Osorio. A laugh! a laugh! O hell! he laughs at me!
Velez. It heaved his chest more like a violent sob.
Osorio. A choking laugh! [A pause — then very wildly.
I tell thee, my dear father!
I am most glad of this!
Velez. Glad! — aye — to be sure.
Osorio. I was benumb’d, and stagger’d up and down 195
Thro’ darkness without light — dark — dark — dark —
And every inch of this my flesh did feel
As if a cold toad touch’d it! Now ‘tis sunshine,
And the blood dances freely thro’ its channels!
[He turns off — then (to himself) mimicking FERDINAND’S
manner.
‘A common trick of gratitude, my lord! 200
Old Gratitude! a dagger would dissect
His own full heart,’ ‘twere good to see its colour!
Velez (looking intently at the picture). Calm, yet commanding!
