Fades, and from his crimson throne may remain Needless, therefore, was the night, Smiles, which my sad aspect knows not- To your eye my grief disclose not- Have I been ;-whom love of thee Leads to this extremity. D. Man. Slight must such extreme appear, Since although admitted here, I, methinks, have reason good D. Ang. You complain of me! D. Ang. Nay, that alone If This must the condition be ; Even so, That you know not whom you meet, I must ever be for thee NO. CCXCI. VOL. XLVII. B As a riddle, as a dream; I will swear it was not so. This promising conversation is interrupted by a loud knocking at the middle door of the room, and by the voice of Don Juan, who comes to enquire whether Beatrice has yet returned to her own house. Beatrice hastily makes her escape through the door on the right: Isabel hurries Don Manuel out by the door on the right leading to the cabinet, while Don Juan enters by the middle door. He is at first surprised to find Angela in full dress; but his suspicions are allayed by her apology, that, with a woman's love for dress, she had put on her festive apparel as an amusement to divert her solitude. And after being told that Beatrice had already left the house for her own mansion, he retires, announcing his intention of paying her a visit there before she retired to rest. The scene then changes to the apartments of Don Manuel. Isabel and Don Manuel enter in the dark, through the secret door. Isab. Here you must remain, and make No disturbance-that they may not Hear you. Don Man. I shall be a statue. Isab. Now, Heaven grant I may be able In my fright to find the door! D. Man. Heaven! how perilous his daring Who thus enters to a mansion, Knowing nothing, learning nothing! What mischances hover near him! What mysterious risks surround him! Of some noble-titled lady, At the least" Her Excellency," Wrapt in gloom and nightly terrors, Ha! What noise was that? Some door [He stumbles against Don Manuel. Laid her claws upon my master, Nay, in faith, she wants us both! Peace, D. Man. D. Man. Doubtless this must be some servant Well, from him I may discover Who is call'd the Lady Goblin : 'Tis the devil in the likeness Cosm. Who am I? a drudge, a servant, A poor knave-a luckless devil_ Who, without or rhyme or reason, Is the victim of enchantment. D. Man. And your master-Who is he? Idiot, simpleton, and ninny, Since he dotes upon the devil. D. Man. And his name? But how found you entrance? I Am your master. Tell me, did you Cosm. Pleasant jesting, on my honour; Rather say, How came you here? Did you not, alone and boldly, D. Man. Whose apartment then is this? Cosm. Why, your own, or else the devil's. D. Man. Now, by Heaven! a shameless falsehood. Far removed from my apartment And within another mansion Was I but a moment past. Cosm. Sleights like these are of the devil's Own devising: I have told you But the simple truth. D. Man. Lose my senses. You'd have me There, step out What is wanting 2 Through the door, into the passage, Look around you, and let that Undeceive you. D. Man.' It is well, I will search and see in person. [Exit. Cosm. When, my master, shall we 'scape From this region of delusion? [ISABEL enters gently through the secret door in the dark. Isab. Now, Don Juan has departed— That our captive guest Don Manuel Mayn't discover where he is, I must let him out. Ilist, señor, Isab. (aside.) Your master-who is he? D. Man. (re-entering) 'Tis indeed my own apartment. Cosm. Isab. 'Tis I. Then quick. Come with me. Don Man. Come, you were right. Isab. Stay not-there is nought to fear. [She takes hold of COSME by the hand, and draws him out by the secret door. Cosm. Master! help! the Goblin takes me! [Exit with ISABEL. How this mummery takes its rises? What, no answer? Cease this fooling. Cosme! Cosme! Nay, by Heaven! I encounter but the walls Did I not converse with Cosme? Lose my senses. Yet since some one, Mean time Isabel, under the impression that Don Manuel is her companion, introduces Cosme into the apartment of Dona Angela. Though confused at the mistake, the ladies are resolved to keep up the mystification of the servant; who is directed to refresh himself with a glass of wine, as he has a journey of more than two hundred miles to perform through the air the same night. In the midst of their merriment, however, Don Luis knocks, demanding admittance. bel precipitately retreats with Cosme through the door on the left. Beatrice conceals herself behind the curtain. Don Luis who, in consequence of overhearing the conversation between Angela and Beatrice in the Second Act, expects to surprise Beatrice and her brother together, enters, sees the traces of the entertainment, and, observing the Isa [Goes into the recess. apparent confusion of Angela, insists on searching her apartments. A noise is at the same time heard in the apartment to the left, and Don Luis hurries out in pursuit, leaving Angela, who in terror and anxiety resolves to seek protection with the father of Beatrice, till an opportunity for explanation with her brothers arrive. The scene again changes to the apart ment of Don Manuel. It is dark; Isabel and Cosme enter hastily through the secret door: almost at the same moment, Don Manuel, hearing the sound of persons in the apartment, enters from the recess. Isabel, after depositing Cosme in the room, hurries out by the centre door, forgetting, in her agitation, to wheel the cabinet back into its place. A light is seen behind, and Don Luis enters by the secret door. Cosm. This goes ill. To displace this cabinet? How have they managed Cosm. (aside.) Ha! the light comes: let the table I've encounter'd here conceal me. [Creeps under the table. D. Man. (advancing.) Let this mummery have an end. D. Luis. Don Manuel! Ever witness'd such confusion? Cosm. So, 'twas thus the Goblin enter'dThousand times I've wish'd to say so. D. Luis. Craven heart, dishonour'd knight, Traitor comrade, perjured guest, Who against a brother's honour, That esteems, receives, and trusts thee, D. Man. Yes! but only to defend me Thus to hear thee-thus to see thee- That although you strive to slay me, To the proof, must be immortal. Though you strive, you cannot give me I will own your arm is strong, But my grief is stronger still. D. Luis. Not with reasons, but with deeds, |