Stop, sir! stop, stop! I see you: I bid you stop. Flora, Flora!—I’ll ring the alarm. [_Pulls a rope._ Will no one come?
_D._ He is here, Ricardo: I heard him, I saw him.
_D._ He ran off down the stairs. Follow him and seize him. 2145 Bring him back here. Quick!
Is this the way I am treated? and not a servant! Flora! Come, Flora! Flora! is no one awake?
_Enter_ (L.) _St. Nicholas hurriedly, half-dressed, carrying suits of clothes, a dressing-case, etc._
Fire! fire! The palace is on fire! Fly, fly! 2150
_D._ Stay, sir, I say: the house is not on fire.
_N._ Where is the fire? Mercy! O, heaven save me!
_D._ I rang the bell myself to awake the house. A man broke in.
_D._ I do not know. He has got away. Go, wake Sir Gregory.
_N._ (_going_). First let me fetch my sword!
_D._ Nonsense, St. Nicholas; we need no swords. Go, wake Sir Gregory, and send him here: Send him at once. [_Exit N._ (L.)
Were you too late, Ricardo? 2160 Did you not catch him? Has he escaped?
_R._ In the dark, Whoever it was, had passed the door before me, And, like a hare, faster than I could follow, Sped o’er the grass into the house.
_R._ At Frederick’s door. I reached it In time to hear the key turn in the lock.
_D._ ’Tis he, then, and escaped in spite of us. But I’ll find out with whom he dares....
_R._ (_aside_). ’Twas the fool Tristram: I saw him plainly enough. Should I not tell her?—
_D._ Ricardo, go and fetch Sir Gregory; 2171 I have sent St. Nicholas for him, but the man Is scared with terror.
_R._ (_aside_). While all goes well with me, the less I meddle The better. I’ll let her find this out herself.
So here you crawl at last! I had better keep No maids at all than such a drowsy troop. Not frightened by the fire-bell! You must have Wondrous good consciences. Now, tell me at once— There was a man outside my chamber-door Laughing and talking. Answer at once!—who was it? Who was it was here? 2181
I heard my lady call; But did not think that it could be my lady At such an hour.
_D._ Nay: I should be asleep Of course, but I was not.
My major-domo At last. Come in, Sir Gregory, come: you are wanted.
I am shocked, your ladyship, at what hath happened: Ricardo hath told me. But there seems no doubt The unknown intruder hath escaped. Be sure You may retire in safety, without fear Of being disturbed again. I will go round 2190 And see that all’s secure. To-morrow morning There shall be full inquiry.