University of Virginia Library

SCENE II.

Another Apartment in Don Guzman's House.
Enter Don Guzman, Don Alonzo, Cuchillo, and Donna Laura.
ALONZO.
My lord, there's no one has more cause than I
To take offence at Don Ramirez' conduct:
And yet I own it puzzles me to guess,
Why, were he thus engag'd, he should have press'd me
To introduce him as your daughter's suitor.

GUZMAN.
'Tis beyond all belief.

ALONZO.
I almost think
There must be some mistake.

GUZMAN.
Why, as you say,
There may be a mistake.

ALONZO.
And yet that letter—

GUZMAN.
Aye, there's no getting over that.

ALONZO.
I know not—
His character has always been esteem'd
Most excellent.

GUZMAN.
That's strongly in his favour.

ALONZO.
Right, my good lord, it is the only test,
By which a doubtful matter can be tried.

CUCHILLO.
You'll give me leave to say, sir, character
Can never weigh against plain evidence.

GUZMAN.
That's true—no more it can.
Enter Ramirez and Clara.
What! here again?

RAMIREZ.
I have no reason to avoid you.

GUZMAN.
No?

RAMIREZ.
No. I've already said, and say again,
I know not that Lucretia de Monsalvo.

GUZMAN.
How comes her letter then directed to you?

RAMIREZ.
I know no more than you—or Mrs. Nunez.

CLARA.
Nay, then, you know but little.

RAMIREZ.
On mine honour!—

CLARA.
You still persist in your denial, sir?

RAMIREZ.
I do, most resolutely.

CLARA.
Who knows then,
If this same letter may not, after all,
Prove a mere forgery?

GUZMAN.
What's that you say?

CLARA.
There is no doubting Don Ramirez' honour;
And he, you hear, denies it.

RAMIREZ.
Certainly.

CLARA.
As for the letter, any one might write it,
Either to gratify some private pique,
Or else from love of mischief, or, what's worse,
From a desire to interrupt his nuptials.

RAMIREZ.
Nothing more likely.—Nay—I pray you hear.
Go on, good Mrs. Nunez.

CLARA.
I've known people,
Who took delight in these malicious jokes.
This may be some of their performances.

RAMIREZ.
It's ten to one.

CLARA.
Now, if you weigh the matter,
You have in one scale this disputed letter,
In th' other, Don Ramirez' solemn word.

ALONZO.
In truth, my lord, there's much in what she says.
I am afraid we've acted hastily.

GUZMAN.
D'ye think so?—Nay—it may be so indeed.
(To Ramirez)
—If we have been mistaken, Don Ramirez!
I know not what apology to make.
Come, Laura, tell me, are you satisfied?

LAURA.
I'm only much surpriz'd that Mrs. Nunez—

CLARA.
Let me but say a word in private, madam—

[They talk apart.
ALONZO.
Ramirez, there's my hand—I ask your pardon,
For doubting your good faith.

GUZMAN.
And here is mine.
But you must own the circumstance was strong.

CUCHILLO.
I've known a man hang'd before now on weaker.

RAMIREZ.
My lord, and you my worthy friend, and you
Master Cuchillo, give me all your hands;
I heartily forgive you. On my soul
There's something so absurd in the whole story,
So monstrously ridiculous—ha! ha!
I can't help laughing—

GUZMAN.
And you look'd so queer,
And fum'd and fretted—when I think of it,
I can't help laughing too—Eh! Don Alonzo?
Master Cuchillo?—'Twas a pleasant joke.—

(All laugh.)
Enter Balthazar.
BALTHAZAR.
My lord, there are some persons at the gate,
Who ask to see your lordship.

GUZMAN
(still laughing).
Who are they?

BALTHAZAR.
One calls herself Lucretia de Monsalvo—

GUZMAN.
The deuce she does!

LAURA.
Now, what d'ye think, my lord?

GUZMAN.
I know not what to think— (to Balthazar)
—Bid her come up.
[Exit Balthazar.
Why, Don Ramirez, what's the matter with you?
You stand aghast.

RAMIREZ.
I'm so amazed, my lord—

GUZMAN.
I do not doubt it in the least.—Odslife!
Here they all come—Now we shall find it out.
Enter Beatrice as Lucretia, and Bertran as a Notary.
Well, madam, what are your commands with us?

BEATRICE.
I come for justice against Don Ramirez,
Who here is come a suitor to your daughter,
While all the time he is my wedded husband.

RAMIREZ.
My lord, this grows a very serious matter.
'Tis a conspiracy to blast my fame.

BERTRAN.
You'd best not say so—We are honest people,
Well look'd on in Toledo, and, 'till you
Seduc'd my girl, consorting with the best.
Will you pretend to say you know me not,
Miguel Monsalvo?—Who have here the bond
You gave her, promising to marry her
Under the penalty of—

GUZMAN.
Pray let me see it.
Master Cuchillo, look at it.

CUCHILLO.
Hum! ha!
The bond's a good and most sufficient bond.

BEATRICE
(to Ramirez).
Turn, turn those stern forbidding eyes upon me!
Let me again embrace you!

RAMIREZ.
'Sdeath! keep off!
My lord—Alonzo—I appeal to you—

ALONZO.
Make no appeal to me, sir, I renounce
Your friendship! Never speak to me again!

RAMIREZ.
Are you all mad? My lord, you shall repent this,
(To Alonzo)
And so shall you, sir!—You are all combin'd
With these impostors; but I will have justice—
Keep off, thou crocodile!—Away—away—
By heav'n! I'll make examples of you all!

[Exit.
ALONZO.
My lord, I'm petrified. I hope your lordship
Will not conceive I knew ought of the matter—

GUZMAN.
Sir, I acquit you fully. But your friend—

ALONZO.
He is no more a friend of mine, my lord.

GUZMAN.
To treat my daughter thus!— (To Laura.)
—Come, my poor love,
(To Alonzo)
And you, good sir—and you, Master Cuchillo,
Let's talk the matter over.—Mrs. Nunez!
Let these poor people here have hearty welcome.
I'll speak to them again before they go.

[Exeunt.