Thus, and if justice reign supreme above,
The traitress shall come hither to her doom.”
(_Enter Francesca._)
(_Aside_) “My prayer is answered. It is Jove's decree.” So the passage
ran, and it was delivered by the actress with a fervour that thrilled
the house.
After her aside, Oriana turned, according to the stage directions, to
Francesca with a smile. In Miss Hoppner's eyes there was a light
of triumph--of gratified revenge--and before it Margaret Woffington
quailed. She gave a frightened glance around, as if looking for a way of
escape; there was a little pause, and then upon the silence of the
house there fell the half-hissed words of Oriana as she craned her head
forward facing her rival:
“Thou think'st to ride in triumph o'er my
corse--