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220

       That are all dust and rottenness within.

       Would’st thou I should strip such?

      Osorio. Thou quibbling fool,

       What dost thou mean? Think’st thou I journey’d hither

       To sport with thee?

      Albert. No, no! my lord! to sport

       Best fits the gaiety of innocence! 225

      Osorio (draws back as if stung and embarrassed, then folding his

       arms). O what a thing is Man! the wisest heart

       A fool — a fool, that laughs at its own folly,

       Yet still a fool! [Looks round the cottage.

       It strikes me you are poor!

      Albert. What follows thence?

      Osorio. That you would fain be richer.

       Besides, you do not love the rack, perhaps, 230

       Nor a black dungeon, nor a fire of faggots.

       The Inquisition — hey? You understand me,

       And you are poor. Now I have wealth and power,

       Can quench the flames, and cure your poverty.

       And for this service, all I ask you is 235

       That you should serve me — once — for a few hours.

      Albert (solemnly). Thou art the son of Velez! Would to Heaven

       That I could truly and for ever serve thee!

      Osorio. The canting scoundrel softens. [Aside.

       You are my friend!

       ‘He that can bring the dead to life again.’ 240

       Nay, no defence to me. The holy brethren

       Believe these calumnies. I know thee better.

      [Then with great bitterness.

      Thou art a man, and as a man I’ll trust thee!

      Albert. Alas, this hollow mirth! Declare your business!

      Osorio. I love a lady, and she would love me 245

       But for an idle and fantastic scruple.

       Have you no servants round the house? no listeners?

      [OSORIO steps to the door.

      Albert. What! faithless too? false to his angel wife?

       To such a wife? Well might’st thou look so wan,

       Ill-starr’d Maria! Wretch! my softer soul 250

       Is pass’d away! and I will probe his conscience.

      Osorio (returned). In truth this lady loved another man,

       But he has perish’d.

      Albert. What? you kill’d him? hey?

      Osorio. I’ll dash thee to the earth, if thou but think’st it,

       Thou slave! thou galley-slave! thou mountebank! 255

       I leave thee to the hangman!

      Albert. Fare you well!

       I pity you, Osorio! even to anguish!

      [ALBERT retires off the stage.

      Osorio (recovering himself). ‘Twas ideotcy! I’ll tie myself to

       an aspen,

       And wear a Fool’s Cap. Ho! [Calling after ALBERT.

      Albert (returning). Be brief, what wish you?

      Osorio. You are deep at bartering — you charge yourself 260

       At a round sum. Come, come, I spake unwisely.

      Albert. I listen to you.

      Osorio. In a sudden tempest

       Did Albert perish — he, I mean, the lover —

       The fellow ——

      Albert. Nay, speak out, ‘twill ease your heart

       To call him villain! Why stand’st thou aghast? 265

       Men think it natural to hate their rivals!

      Osorio (hesitating and half doubting whether he should proceed).

       Now till she knows him dead she will not wed me!

      Albert (with eager vehemence). Are you not wedded, then?

       Merciful God!

       Not wedded to Maria?

      Osorio. Why, what ails thee?

       Art mad or drunk? Why look’st thou upward so? 270

       Dost pray to Lucifer, prince of the air?

      Albert. Proceed. I shall be silent.

      [ALBERT sits, and leaning on the table hides his face.

      Osorio. To Maria!

       Politic wizard! ere you sent that message,

       You had conn’d your lesson, made yourself proficient

       In all my fortunes! Hah! you prophesied 275

       A golden crop! — well, you have not mistaken —

       Be faithful to me, and I’ll pay thee nobly.

      Albert (lifting up his head). Well — and this lady!

      Osorio. If we could make her certain of his death,

       She needs must wed me. Ere her lover left her, 280

       She tied a little portrait round his neck

       Entreating him to wear it.

      Albert (sighing). Yes! he did so!

      Osorio. Why, no! he was afraid of accidents,

       Of robberies and shipwrecks, and the like.

       In secrecy he gave it me to keep 285

       Till his return.

      Albert. What, he was your friend then?

      Osorio (wounded and embarrassed). I was his friend.

      [A pause.

      Now that he gave it me

       This lady knows not. You are a mighty wizard —

       Can call this dead man up — he will not come — 290

       He is in heaven then! — there you have no influence —

       Still there are tokens; and your imps may bring you

       Something he wore about him when he died.

       And when the smoke of the incense on the altar

       Is pass’d, your spirits will have left this picture. 295

       What say you now?

      Albert (after a long pause). Osorio, I will do it.

      Osorio. Delays are dangerous. It shall be tomorrow

       In the early evening. Ask for the Lord Velez.

       I will prepare him. Music, too, and incense,

       All shall be ready. Here is this same picture — 300

       And here what you will value more, a purse.

       Before the dusk ——

      Albert. I will not fail to meet you.

      Osorio. Till next we meet, farewell!

      Albert (alone, gazes passionately at the portrait). And I did

       curse thee?

       At midnight? on my knees? And I believed

       Thee perjured, thee polluted, thee a murderess? 305

       O blind and credulous fool! O guilt of folly!

      

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