_Hall in Manuel’s house. MANUEL and MARGARET._
_MANUEL._
Nay, ’twas ill done. The open window shews
He made a breakneck leap into the street.
I searched the room, in case he might have left
Some explanation written: there was none. 1190
I am vexed. ’Tis a most graceless breach of trust.
_MARGARET._
What promise made he?
_Man._ None was asked. The knowledge
Of duty were enough to bind a man
Far less obliged. And then ’tis thankless, Margaret.
Twice have we saved his life: first I, then thou:
And while we sleep he flies. I blame myself,
I should have pledged his word.
_Mar._ Hadst thou so done,
He would have stayed.
_Man._ I know not. Now he is gone ...
Go set his room as if he had never been.
We must forget the matter. I have summons 1200
From Hugo, and must leave.
_Mar._ And when I have done
Thy bidding, may I go to Monreale?
_Man._ You wish it?
_Mar._ Yes.
_Man._ What calls you there?
_Mar._ A visit.
I’ll take Lucia, and can ride Rosamund.
_Man._ Nay, nay, I would not have it. Thou wilt meet
With Rosso’s people, maybe Rosso himself;
And he might misinterpret ... and I think
So soon after your game of blindman’s buff,
That since thou canst not love him ...
_Mar._ Manuel, I promise—
_Man._ I want no promises; but if thou goest 1210
Remember ...
_Mar._ Why, I’ll promise ...
_Man._ Nay, I bid.
Only be wise. Wilt thou be back to-night?
_Mar._ To-morrow, may I stay so long?
_Man._ Ay, stay.
Have good care of thyself. Farewell. [_Exit._
_Mar._ Farewell.
(_Calling._) Lucia, Lucia; come, Lucia, come!
_Enter Lucia._
_LUCIA._
My lady.
_Mar._ To horse, Lucia! we start at once.
Order the horses.
_Lu._ Holy Mary, defend us!
It cannot be thou meanest ...
_Mar._ What is this, now?
Last night didst thou not promise?
_Lu._ If I did,
’Twas madness: think of the risk.
_Mar._ I take the risk. 1220
_Lu._ Consider.
_Mar._ I have considered.
_Lu._ O, dear mistress,
I fear all will not end well; think again.
Think what thou leavest.
_Mar._ I think I shall leave thee.
_Lu._ But when shall we return?
_Mar._ Maybe to-morrow.
Order the horses. I shall go without thee.
Quick, quick, begone!
_Lu._ Well, well. Thou hast found a man:
I being a woman must help thee, tho’ ’tis madness.
_Mar._ Go, girl: I know it. Thou’lt be true, Lucia:
Only be quick.
_Lu._ Well, well: may heaven forgive us. [_Exit._
_Mar._ Forgive, she saith. Forgive me rather, oh heaven! 1230
The sourness of my spirit hitherto:
Yet now forgive me not if I dare tamper
With this intrinsic passion. O joy, my joy!
This beauteous world is mine:
All Sicily is mine:
This morning mine. I saw the sun, my slave,
Poising on high his shorn and naked orb
For my delight. He there had stayed for me,
Had he not read it in my heart’s delight
I bade him on. The birds at dawn sang to me, 1240
Crying ’Is life not sweet? O is’t not sweet?’
I looked upon the sea; there was not one,
Of all his multitudinous waves, not one,
That with its watery drift at raking speed
Told not my special joy. O happy lovers
In all the world, praise God with me: his angels
Envy us, seeing we are his favourites.
What else could grant such joy? Now on my journey
Must I set forth, to be a brigand’s wife ...
That’s but the outward of it, and looks strange:
For, oh, the heart of it is a fire of passion 1251
To lick up trifling life. Away, such dainty stuff:
Let me stand forth myself.—Yet ere I go
I must send Constance word. To whom to trust
My letter? Ah, Philip ...
_Enter Philip._
_PHILIP._
Good morning, Margaret.
_Mar._ Good morning, duke: thou goest to the palace?
_Ph._ Ay.
_Mar._ May I ask thee, then, to bear this letter
To Constance? I’d not trust it willingly
Where it might wander.
_Ph._ ’Twill pass from my hands
To hers.
_Mar._ Pray tell her, for my health I go 1260
To Monreale, or would have come myself.
_Ph._ I’ll tell her so. I pray the change restore thee,—
And soon. Indeed thou look’st not well. Farewell.
_Mar._ Farewell. (_Aside._) Look I then ill? I never felt
So light and keen in spirit. [_Exit._
_Ph._ (_solus_). This fits in, too. She is sent to Monreale,
Lest she should make discovery. ’Tis thus
I join the threads. Palicio climbed the wall,
Came hither thro’ the garden: here he stayed
And bound his wound. So far the track. There has been
At least no care to hide it; and now he lies 1271
In the room across the courtyard: wherefore else
Drawn curtains, and the lamp, which yesterday
Burnt, as I saw, in the afternoon? All credit
To the king’s commissioner. Yet must I dissemble,
And not appear in the matter. ’Tis incredible
Of Manuel. What will he allege? He is gone
To the palace now: thither must I, and face him.
[_Exit._