_D._ To-morrow? Nay, I do not leave this spot till I know all. I guess who ’tis.
_G._ I pray your ladyship Retire. The cold air of the hall, the excitement At such an hour may harm your ladyship.
_D._ No. If I die I’ll learn the truth at once. I know else how ’twill be. You’ll go to bed And sleep till noon; and when you wake you’ll say ’Twas all delusion, that I never heard 2200 A man at all. That what Ricardo saw Was but a bush, a shadow, a bat, an owl He frighted from the ivy: and so in the end All will make light of it.
_G._ Heigh! Give me a light. The lamp has been extinguished on the stairs. I’ll go and search about.
[_Takes a light from one of the maids, and Exit, back._
_D._ Now, ye dissemblers, stand forth one by one And answer me.
_R._ (_aside_). This will seal Frederick’s fate. She must betray her mean suspicion, and I Witness the degradation of her idol.— 2210
(_The maids are congregated at back,_ R. _as they come out of the passage. They stand forth singly to be questioned, and come in turn to front_, R.)
_D._ Dorothy first. Dost thou know, Dorothy, What man it was whose voice I heard up-stairs; Who, when I left my room and gave the alarm, Ran out?
_D._ I ask Didst thou not see or hear him?
_D._ Sawst thou or heardst thou anything?
_Fl._ I am grieved my lady Should think I could deceive her.
_D._ I did not ask If you deceived me. Heard you any noise? Did you see any man?
_Fl._ (_aside to K._). Did she believe me?
_K._ (_to Fl._). Well! Thou’st got a brazen face!
_D._ Marcela next. Didst thou hear anything?
I heard no noise until my lady called. 2231
_D._ Now, Rose, thou’rt left alone. Thy fellow-servants Have all denied the thing of which some one At least is guilty. Thee I did not suspect: But do not fear to tell the truth. Who was it? Tell me who is thy lover. No tittering there! Your levity makes you all accomplices, Ay, every one.
_Rose._ I do not know. I heard no noise till Marcela awoke me.
_Mar._ Yes, my lady. She was asleep. Rose always speaks the truth. It wasn’t Rose.
_D._ You are all then in one plot: Or shame has made you lie. But never think To escape. I know the gentleman, and know He visits one of you: and which it is I’ll learn to-night: unless perhaps you’ll say 2250 He makes love to you all.