_Room in the Palace. HUGO and PHILIP meeting._
_HUGO._
No cheer. Thy questioning looks may not be answer’d
With any brightness, duke: and yet take heart.
The fever of our climate is in the onset 2110
Oft overmasked as this. ’Twill clear and pass.
’Twere quite incredible she should so sicken
Of mere affection. The compacted body
Hath its machinery for health and action,
Its appetites for food and rest, too firm
To be unfixed by fancy. Like a river
Our life flows on, whose surface storms may vex,
But never move the current from its bed.
_PHILIP._
I heartily repent my part in this.
I wronged poor Manuel.
_Hu._ Now thou wrong’st me. 2120
Him being dead thou canst not wrong. ’Tis plain
The objection falls. If once there was a motive
That might have stayed thee ...
_Ph._ Nay, upbraid me not.
_Hu._ How, I upbraid thee?
_Ph._ That I pressed my suit.
_Hu._ Rather for slackness in it.
_Ph._ If she recover
’Tis all I pray for.
_Hu._ Not so. This will pass.
’Twill be forgotten. All will be forgotten.
Look but on Margaret, doth her brother’s death
Craze her?
_Ph._ Indeed, I think she is nigh distracted;
And if she bear up better there’s a reason: 2130
She hath a comforter. Nay, I may tell you
I saw your doctor here take her aside,
And when he spoke, her face of woe lit up.
She loves him. ’Twas a match that Manuel wished.
_Hu._ Nay, nay! what! Rosso, the apothecary!
_Enter Livio and Blasco._
Ah, Livio; Constance calls thy name, ’tis hoped
That she may know thee.
_LIVIO._
Is she better, sire?
_Hu._ Nay: but she asked for thee, and Rosso said
Thou shouldst be sent for. Come within.
_Ph._ May I
Far as the door?
_Hu._ Ay, come.
_BLASCO_ (_aside to Liv._).
Tell Margaret, 2140
Who hath some matter for me, that I am here.
[_Exeunt Hugo and Livio._
_Ph._ Count, thou hast lied to me. If that suffice
To raise thy temper, meet me when thou wilt:
If not, and Constance die, I’ll use thee worse. [_Exit._
_Bl._ Ay, ay. No doubt there may be danger for me
Even from that quarter: but I have a foe
That threats me more. How came she by the letter?
Only Palicio and his messenger
Could know ’twas mine.
_Enter Margaret._
_MARGARET._
’Tis business with thee, count:
Therefore few words. I have thy treasonous letter
And other proofs, which I shall bring against thee
Unless thou do my bidding.
_Bl._ What is that, 2152
My lady Peremptory? speak thy will.
_Mar._ Attend. Palicio is condemned to die
At noon to-morrow. I require that thou
Contrive that he escape, ay, and go clear
Three hours before that time.
_Bl._ Impossible.
_Mar._ ’Tis not so, count. For Livio had promised me
The very thing; but since his price exceeds
What I need pay to thee ...
_Bl._ My price, how mean you? 2160
_Mar._ I will give back thy letter to thy hands,
And promise secrecy in every matter
I had against thee.
_Bl._ Give me now the letter,
And I will do it.
_Mar._ Nay. Thou’lt do it first.
_Bl._ Then say that if at nine to-morrow morn
I have a friendly guard—
_Mar._ Keep to that hour:
’Twill do. I shall be there to see it done.
I’ll bring the letter with me. I can provide
His further safety. If thou fail, the enquiry,
Which I can set on foot, delays his death, 2170
Till I find other means.
_Bl._ But still I see not
My own security.
_Mar._ Thou hast my promise:
And thy security is only this,
To keep to thine. I go. Remember, nine. [_Exit._
_Bl._ Wheu! wheu! Who hath the secret now? Indeed,
I see this dainty lady hath a lover
We little dreamed of. Therefore was he housed
With Manuel. O, Giovann Palicio:
Thus Livio’s rival. And thou blab of me
To mistress Margaret, dost thou? well, well, well!
I’ll see thee die for that. Die now thou must. 2181
I have, sir, but to tell this tale in the ear
Of the chief justiciary, and I am saved.
_Re-enter Livio._
Livio, thou hast a rival.
_Liv._ I know.
_Bl._ Thou knowest?
_Liv._ My father saith Margaret will marry Rosso.
_Bl._ Rosso! Rosso be hanged! ’Tis John Palicio.
_Liv._ Palicio!
_Bl._ Yes, Palicio.
_Liv._ Nay.
_Bl._ I’ll tell thee.
Hark.—Was he not concealed in Manuel’s house?
_Liv._ Well?
_Bl._ And escaping from his house by night,
The next day where was Margaret?
_Liv._ Ah!
_Bl._ And then 2190
’Twas she betrayed the rebels.
_Liv._ Eh!
_Bl._ We traced
The little book to her servant.
_Liv._ That’s against it.
_Bl._ Nay: it explains why all the names were there,
Only not his.
_Liv._ But then ... nay, why should he
Surrender?
_Bl._ That’s but madness any way.
But now she comes demanding his deliverance.
_Liv._ Ay, she doth. O, the villain! he shall die.
_Bl._ He shall; but hark, I have promised Margaret
To set Palicio free at nine to-morrow.
Say that we go together. Margaret comes 2200
To see her lover freed. Her we will take
And keep confined until his execution;
Which for our purpose may be hurried on.
Or if ...
_Liv._ Stay; why this promise? In the course
Of justice he must die.
_Bl._ Not so. My promise
To set him free was made for two good reasons.
First hearing thou hadst offered her the like:
Next for the knowledge that on my refusal
She could find other means. Beside all which
She bargains to restore me certain letters 2210
I sent her years ago, which I confess
I am now ashamed of: (_aside._)—Any lie will serve
To smooth this idiot.—These she brings with her,
And I can take them from her. My object gained
I hand her o’er to thee. For all her scorns
Repay her as thou wilt.
_Liv._ I fear her.
_Bl._ Nay,
I can secure thee. Come. [_Exeunt._