University of Virginia Library

SCENE I.

An Apartment in De Silva Castle.
Enter Donna Victoria and Margaretta.
VICTORIA.
No more! no more! It is, it is Montalban,
Beyond all hope restor'd! Mysterious heav'n,
How wond'rous, how inscrutable thy ways!
That he alone should 'scape the tempest's fury,
That his own child should save him from the deep!

MARGARETTA.
I joy to think your suff'rings now are past,
And that your future bliss—

VICTORIA.
My bliss? Alas!
A flatt'ring vision for a moment dazzled
My slumb'ring senses—But 'tis past, and now
I wake again, with keener pangs to abide
The mis'ry that awaits me.

MARGARETTA.
Heav'n forbid!
Have I not told you that your own Montalban—

VICTORIA.
Mine own Montalban, say'st thou? So, alas!
I fondly once believ'd him—But he's false,
And I'm most wretched!—Oh my Margaretta!
I've had such fatal confirmation
Of my worst fears, that not a hope remains
To cheer my poor desponding heart. Don Lopez—

MARGARETTA.
What said he?

VICTORIA.
That Montalban had resolv'd,
With her who claims the title rightly mine,
To quit Peru, and hither to return.
And is he not arriv'd?

MARGARETTA.
What proof is that?
Wreck'd as he is—

VICTORIA.
Thence springs my strongest doubt.
Preserv'd alone from the destructive waves,
All evidences of his crime absorb'd
In the same gulph that swallow'd up his wealth,
May he not hope that with impunity
In a new character he may impose
On my credulity?

MARGARETTA.
It may be so.
Beyond all doubt there was a mystery
In what he said to me about his wife.
Nay, now I recollect, he spoke of her
As one for ever lost to him. What if
You were yourself to see him?

VICTORIA.
Not for worlds!
I cannot trust myself to such a trial.

MARGARETTA.
What other means remain to prove the truth?
Justice to him and to yourself requires,
You should not leave a matter undecided
On which the happiness of both depends.
See him—converse with him—

VICTORIA.
No more—a thought
Has just occurr'd. Ask me no questions, Marg'ret,
But do as I direct. Let the best chamber
I' th' west wing of the castle be prepar'd—

MARGARETTA.
Why all this?

VICTORIA.
Ask me not.—Send Guzman hither—
Make haste.—I am not mad, my Margaret,
But desp'rate ills require a desp'rate cure.
[Exit Margaretta.
Now, if my project do but hold, I'll probe
His inmost soul, and ascertain the truth.

Enter Guzman.
GUZMAN.
Did your good ladyship enquire for me?
'Tis fortunate I just came back in time.

VICTORIA.
Where have you been?

GUZMAN.
Attentive to my duty;
Still mindful of your ladyship's commands.
He's doing very well.

VICTORIA.
Who?

GUZMAN.
Why the fellow,
Who 'scap'd so narrowly a drowning bout.
Another plunge had done his bus'ness for him.

VICTORIA.
You take strange liberties in your discourse.
Know you of whom you speak, sir?

GUZMAN.
Know him, madam?
Not I—I never saw his face before.
Do you, ma'am?

VICTORIA.
He's a stranger, and in want—
Sufficient titles, sir, for your respect.

GUZMAN.
I treated him respectfully enough;
Though, to say truth, he gave himself more airs
Than well became him. Would you think it, ma'am?
When I just hinted at the obligations
Conferr'd upon him—

VICTORIA.
How did you presume
To take a freedom so unwarranted?
If e'er again you venture to exceed
My orders, sir—

GUZMAN.
I humbly crave your pardon,
I didn't know, that is, I thought no harm
In just insinuating—

VICTORIA.
You did ill.
Know you not 'tis our duty to relieve
Those in distress, but that we lose all merit,
When in return we look for other tribute
Than the warm feelings of a grateful heart?

GUZMAN.
To be sure, ma'am.

VICTORIA.
Remember it in future.

GUZMAN.
Yes, ma'am.

VICTORIA.
How did you leave the gentleman?

GUZMAN
(aside).
The gentleman!

VICTORIA.
Why don't you answer, sir?

GUZMAN.
Why, I was telling your good ladyship.
When he could swallow, I administer'd
A cordial draught. It had a fine effect.
Then, as I found he had some fev'rish symptoms,
I threw in a narcotic. 'Twas a stout one.

VICTORIA.
I hope you have not rashly giv'n him
Too strong a potion.

GUZMAN.
Not a grain too much.
Trust that to Guzman.—Ma'am, I undertake,
If your good ladyship were indispos'd,
To make up such a med'cine, 'twould amaze you.
Some thirty drops, ta'en in a glass of wine
Just as you go to bed, then wrap yourself
Up warmly—

VICTORIA.
Have you seen the stranger since?

GUZMAN.
This very moment left him—just return'd.
Ev'ry thing right as I foretold—no fever—
Pulse firm and regular—the patient dropt
Into a sleep, from which he'll not awake
For certain hours—

VICTORIA.
Ar't sure 'tis so profound?

GUZMAN.
Quite certain—you may beat a drum at's ear
Without disturbing him.

VICTORIA.
'Tis very well.
You may retire; but see you go not forth;
I shall have other business for you shortly.
Send Roderigo hither.
[Exit Guzman.
This will render
The project which I meditate more easy.
Enter Roderigo.
Hark, Roderigo!—I have form'd a plan,
In which you must assist me.

RODERIGO.
Well, good lady.

VICTORIA.
Did you much notice the poor shipwreck'd stranger?
D'you think there is much diff'rence 'twixt his size
And that of Ferdinand?

RODERIGO.
Much diff'rence?—No.
Their stature, as I guess, is nearly equal,
And as for bigness, why 'tis much the same,
There may be some small matter—but 'tis trifling.

VICTORIA.
Go then to Ferdinand's partment quickly,
And unobserv'd bring hither the new habit
I order'd for th' arrival of the viceroy.

RODERIGO.
What will Don Ferdinand, though, say to this?

VICTORIA.
That's my concern. Bring it away directly,
And take it to the stranger.

RODERIGO.
To the stranger!

VICTORIA.
Aye, sir; but enter not, 'till from Teresa
You learn he's bound in a deep settled sleep.
Then cloath him in the garments you take with you,
And to the castle's western wing convey him,
(Still careful not to interrupt his slumbers)
Where Margaretta will direct you farther.
Do this discreetly, and my favour shall
Reward your zeal.
[Exit Victoria.

RODERIGO.
Oh ho! is't there you are?
Discreetly, say you? 'Tis a goodly phrase,
And suited to the circumstance. Well, well—
Just as you please—'tis no concern of mine.
Why, we sha'n't know De Silva Castle soon.
I'faith! we're like to have a rare assemblage.
There's one already hard at work below,
Don Gongora—I left him in the cellar,
Bestriding a full cask of Malmsey sack,
Like a true drunkard. If this other's like him,
All Spain cannot produce a third to match 'em.

[Exit.