[From _Conrad and Eudora_ (Philadelphia, 1834)]
_Act III. Scene IV. Frankfort. Time, midnight._ Conrad _enters from
the tavern, walks the street, dressed in dark clothes, with a masque
on his face, and, with difficulty, finds_ Alonzo's _house_.
_Conrad._ This is the place,--and I must change my name.
(_Goes to the door and knocks. Puts his hand in his bosom.
A female voice is heard within--the wife of_ Alonzo.)
_Angeline._ I would not venture out this time o' night.
(_Conrad knocks_.)
_Alonzo._ Who's there?
_Conrad._ A friend.
_Angeline_ (_within_). I would not venture out, my love!
_Alonzo._ Why, Angeline!--thy fears are woman's, love.
(_Knocks again._)
_Alonzo._ Who is that?--speak out!
_Conrad._ Darby--'tis thy friend!
He has some business with thee--'tis of weight!
Has sign'd a bond, and thou must seal the deed!
_Alonzo._ What does he say?
_Angeline._ Indeed I do not know--you'd better see.
(_Knocks again and looks round._)
_Alonzo._ Who can this be--so late at night?
(_Opens the door and steps back._)
_Conrad._ Behold! (_Throws off his masque and takes him by the
throat._)
Look in my face, and call my name!
_Alonzo._ Conrad!--Conrad! do not kill me, have mercy!
_Conrad._ Where is my wife? Now, villain! die!--die!--die!
(_Stabs him._)
Now, pray! if thou canst pray, now pray--now die!
Now, drink the wormwood which Eudora drank.
(_Stamps him._ Alonzo _dies_.)
(Conrad _rushes out and is seen no more_. Angeline, Alonzo's
_wife, runs in the room, screams, and falls upon his breast_.)
_Angeline._ 'Tis he--'tis he--Conrad has kill'd Alonzo!
Oh! my husband! my husband! thou art dead!
'Tis he--'tis he--the wretch has kill'd Alonzo!
(_The doctor_, Alonzo's _brother, rushes in, crying "Murder!--murder!"
Watchmen and citizens rush in, crying
"Murder! murder!_ Alonzo's _dead_! Alonzo's _dead_!")
_Citizens._ Who, under God's heaven, could have done this deed?
_Angeline._ 'Tis he--'tis he! Conrad has kill'd Alonzo!
_Watchmen._ Who did it? Speak! speak! Conrad kill'd Alonzo?
_Angeline._ Conrad--'twas Conrad, kill'd my husband! Dead!
Oh! death--death--death! What will become of me?
_Doctor._ Did you see his face? My God! I know 'twas he!
_Angeline._ I saw his face--I heard his voice--he's gone!
(Angeline _feels his pulse, while the rest look round_.)
Oh! my husband!--my husband!--death, death!
Speak, Alonzo! speak to Angeline--death!
Oh! speak one word, and tell me who it was!
(_Kisses him._)
No pulse--my husband's dead! He's gone!--he's gone!
(_Faints away on his breast. The watchmen and citizens take her
into an adjoining room, bearing her husband with her--asking,
"Who could have kill'd him? Speak_, Angeline--_speak_!")
_Curtain falls. End of Act III._