Don Lorenzo [_aside_]--"Die," she said!
_Edward_--You to die! No, Inez, not that; do not say that.
_Inez_--And why not? If I do not die of grief--if happiness could ever
visit me again--I should die of remorse.
_Lorenzo_ [_aside_]--"Of remorse!" She! "If happiness could ever visit
her again!" What new fatality floats in the air and hangs
threateningly above my head? Remorse! I have surprised another word in
passing! I traverse rooms and halls, and I go from one place to
another, urged by intolerable anguish, and I hear words that I do not
understand, and I meet glances that I do not understand, and tears
greet me here and smiles there, and no one opposes me, and every one
avoids me or watches me. [_Aloud._] What is this? What is this?
_Inez_ [_hurrying to him and throwing herself into his arms_]--Father!
_Lorenzo_--Inez! How pale you are! Why are your lips drawn as if with
pain? Why do you feign smiles that end in sighs!--How lovely in her
sorrow! And I am to blame for all!
_Inez_--No, father.
_Lorenzo_--How cruel I am! Ah! you think it, although you do not say
it.
_Edward_--Inez is an angel. Rebellious thoughts can find no place in
her heart; but who that sees her can fail to think it and to say it?
_Lorenzo_--No one; you are right.
_Edward_ [_with energy_]--If I am right, then you are wrong.
_Lorenzo_--I am right also. There is something more pallid than the
pallid brow of a lovesick maiden; there is something sadder than the
sad tears that fall from her beautiful eyes; something more bitter
than the smile that contracts her lips; something more tragic than the
death of her beloved.
_Edward_ [_with scornful vehemence_]--And what is that pallor, what
are those tears, and what the tragedies you speak of?
_Lorenzo_--Insensate! [_Seizing him by the arm._] The pallor of crime,
the tears of remorse, the consciousness of our own vileness.
_Edward_--And it would be vile, and criminal, and a source of remorse,
to make Inez happy?
_Lorenzo_ [_despairingly_]--It ought not to be so--but it would!
[_Pause._] And this it is that tortures me. This is the thought that
is driving me mad!
_Inez_--No, father, do not say that! Follow the path you have marked
out for yourself, without thought of me. What does it matter whether I
live or die?
_Lorenzo_--Inez!
_Inez_--But do not vacillate--and above all, let no one see that you
vacillate; let your speech be clear and convincing as it is now; let
not anger blind you. Be calm, be calm, father; I implore it of you in
the name of God.
_Lorenzo_--What do you mean by those words? I do not understand you.
_Inez_--Do I rightly know myself what I mean? There--I am going. I do
not wish to pain you.
_Edward_ [_to Lorenzo_]--Ah, if you would but listen to your heart; if
you would but silence the cavilings of your conscience.
_Inez_ [_to Edward_]--Leave him in peace--come with me; do not anger
him, or you will make him hate you.
_Lorenzo_--Poor girl! She too struggles, but she too will conquer!
[_With an outburst of pride._] She will show that she is indeed my
daughter!
[_Inez and Edward go up the stage; passing the study door,
Inez sees the keepers and gives a start of horror._]
_Inez_--What sinister vision affrights my gaze!--No, father, do not
enter there.
_Edward_--Come, come, my Inez!
_Inez_ [_to her father_]--No, no, I entreat you!
_Lorenzo_ [_approaching her_]--Inez!
_Inez_--Those men there--look!
[_Inez stretches out her hand toward the study; Don Lorenzo
stands and follows her gaze. At this moment the keepers,
hearing her cry, show themselves between the curtains._]
_Edward_ [_leading Inez away_]--At last!
* * * * *
_Lorenzo_--Now I am more tranquil! The wound is mortal! I feel it here
in my heart! I thank thee, merciful God!
Dr. Tomas _and_ Dr. Bermudez _enter and stop to observe_ Don
Lorenzo.
_Dr. Tomas_--There he is--sitting in the arm-chair.
_Dr. Bermudez_--Unfortunate man!
_Lorenzo_ [_rising, aside_]--Ah, miserable being! Still cherishing
impossible hopes. Impossible? And what if they honestly believe that
I-- [_Despairingly_] Ah! If they loved me they would not believe it.
[_Pause._] Did I not hear Inez--the child of my heart--speak of
remorse? Why should she speak of remorse? [_Aloud, with increasing
agitation._] They are all wretches! They would almost be glad that I
should die. But no: I will not die until I have fulfilled my duty as
an honorable man; until I have put the climax to my madness.
_Dr. Tomas_ [_laying his hand on Don Lorenzo's shoulder_]--Lorenzo--
_Lorenzo_ [_turning, recognizes him and draws back angrily_]--He!
_Dr. Tomas_--Let me present to you Dr. Bermudez, one of my best
friends. [_Pause. Don Lorenzo regards both strangely._]
_Dr. Bermudez_ [_to Dr. Tomas, in a low voice_]--See the effort he
makes to control himself; he is vaguely conscious of his
condition--there is not a doubt left on my mind.
_Lorenzo_--One of your best friends--one of your best friends--
_Dr. Bermudez_ [_aside to Dr. Tomas_]--The idea is escaping him, and
he is striving to retain it.
_Lorenzo_ [_ironically_]--If he is one of your best friends, then your
loyalty is a guarantee for his.
_Dr. Bermudez_ [_aside, to Dr. Tomas_]--At last he has found the word.
But notice how unnatural is the tone of his voice. [_Aloud._] I have
come to be a witness, according to what Dr. Tomas tells me, of a very
noble action.
_Lorenzo_--And of an act of base treachery also.
_Dr. Tomas_--Lorenzo!
_Dr. Bermudez_ [_aside, to Dr. Tomas_]--Let him go on talking.
_Lorenzo_--And of an exemplary punishment.
_Dr. Bermudez_ [_aside to Dr. Tomas_]--A serious case, my friend, a
serious case.
_Lorenzo_ [_to Dr. Tomas_]--Call everybody: those of the household and
strangers alike. Let them assemble here, and here await my orders,
while I go to fulfill my duty yonder. What are you waiting for?
_Dr. Bermudez_ [_aside, to Dr. Tomas_]--Let him have his way; call
them.
[_Dr. Tomas rings a bell; a servant enters, to whom he speaks
in a low voice and who then goes out._]
_Lorenzo_--It is the final trial; I could almost feel pity for the
traitors. Ah! I am sustained by the certainty of my triumph. Be still,
my heart. There they are--there they are. I do not wish to see them.
To treat me thus who loved them so dearly!--I do not wish, and yet my
eyes turn toward them--seeking them--seeking them!
* * * * *
_Lorenzo_--Inez! It cannot be! She! no, no. It cannot be! My child!
[_Hurries towards her with outstretched arms. Inez runs to
him._]
_Inez_--Father!
[_Dr. Bermudez hastens to interpose, and separates them
forcibly._]
_Dr. Bermudez_--Come, come, Don Lorenzo; you might hurt your daughter
seriously.
_Lorenzo_ [_seizing him by the arm and shaking him
violently_]--Wretch! Who are you to part me from my child?
_Dr. Tomas_--Lorenzo!
_Edward_--Don Lorenzo!
_Angela_--My God!
[_The women group themselves instinctively together, Inez in
her mother's arms, the duchess beside them. Dr. Tomas and
Edward hasten to free Bermudez from Don Lorenzo's grasp_.]
_Lorenzo_ [_aside, controlling himself_]--So! The imbeciles think it
is another access of madness! Ha, ha, ha! [_Laughing with suppressed
laughter. All watch him._]
_Dr. Bermudez_ [_aside to Dr. Tomas_]--It is quite clear.
_Angela_ [_aside_]--Oh, my poor Lorenzo!
_Inez_ [_aside_]--My poor father!
_Lorenzo_ [_aside_]--Now you shall see how my madness will end. Before
I leave this house, with what pleasure will I turn that doctor out of
it. Courage! The coming struggle inspires me with new strength. What!
Is a man to be declared mad because he is resolved to do his duty? Ah,
it cannot be! Humanity is neither so blind nor so base as that.
Enough! I must be calm. Treachery has begun its work; then let the
punishment begin too. [_Aloud._] The hour has come for me to perform a
sacred duty, though a most painful one. It would be useless to ask you
to witness formalities which the law requires, but which you would
only find irksome. The representative of the law awaits me in yonder
room; and in obedience to another and a higher law, I am going now to
renounce a fortune which is not mine, and a name which neither I nor
my family can conscientiously bear longer. After this is done I will
return here, and with my wife, and--and my daughter--and let no one
seek to dissuade me from my purpose, for it would be in vain--I will
leave this house which has been for me in the past the abode of love
and happiness, but which is to-day the abode of treachery and
baseness. Gentlemen [_to Dr. Tomas and Dr. Bermudez_], lead the way; I
beg you to do so.
[_All slowly enter the study. On the threshold Lorenzo casts
a last look at Inez._]
Translation made for 'A Library of the World's Best Literature,'
by Mary J. Serrano