University of Virginia Library

SCENE IV.

—A Landscape.
Enter Georgina, Babbla, and the rest of the Fair Brigands, hastily, R. S. E.
Geo.
Halt, comrades!—Now to cover our retreat.
Make ready—present—fire!

[They fire off, L.
Bab.
Plenty of smoke, my lady, but no danger;
Since our pistols are but charged with powder.

Voices.
[Without.]
Follow! follow!

Geo.
They come!—Now to the abbey ruins—march!

[Exeunt, L. S. E.
Enter Count Fernando, Count Dorio, Sancho, Jeromo, and Vassals, hastily, in pursuit, R. S. E.
Fer.
This way, my friends. [To Count Dorio.]
You say my dear Georgina
Hath not returned?

Count.
Alas! I grieve to say,
We've heard no tidings of her, and I fear,
Lest Massaroni should have crossed her path.

San.
And my dear Babbla, too?

Jer.
No doubt of it.
Babbla is as true to her fair mistress—

San.
As I to my good master.

Fer.
Cease prating;
And follow to the rescue of my love!

[Exit, L. S. E.
San.
To the world's end! [Flourishing his sword.]
—Now, then, for love and glory!

[Exeunt, L. S. E.
Enter Rosa, R., followed by Ladroni, with his head bound up.
Rosa.
I hope your wound, poor fellow, is not mortal!

Lad.
Alas! I feel it is.

Rosa.
How did it happen?

Lad.
In fighting beside my honoured, noble master,
That rascal Massaroni fired his pistol
Point blank into my face; right through my head
The bullet flew!

Enter the Marquis Sapparino, R. S. E., unseen by Rosa and Ladroni.
Rosa.
What a calamity!
Let me examine if the wound be serious.

Lad.
'Tis useless, pretty Rosa; mortal aid
Can now avail me nothing, for by this
Time to-morrow, I shall be meat for worms!

Rosa.
The saints forbid! Come, I will be your doctor.

Lad.
'Tis of no use!

Rosa.
Yes, but I say I will!
[She unties the handkerchief, Ladroni endeavours to prevent her.
Oh, what a dreadful wound!—Why, as I live,
I cannot even see the slightest scratch!

Mar.
[Stepping between them.]
Why, thou poltroon! didst thou not run away?

Lad.
Yes, I ran to fetch—more ammunition.

[Exit, L.
Mar.
The miserable coward!—I alone
Bore the whole brunt of the tremendous conflict!

Rosa.
Aye, on your knees; for you must know, my lord,
That I peeped through the key-hole all the time.

Mar.
You did! [Aside.]
The little vixen! [Aloud.]
Hush, dear Rosa!
Speak not a word of what you saw, I pray!
Besides, I'm engaged just now.—Adieu!

[Exit, hastily, L.
Rosa.
[Calling after him.]
Stay, stay!—Where is your marriage contract?
The paper that the brigand made you sign?
[Laughing.]
Ha! ha! ha!

[Exit, R.