Now if the Duke of Mantua was ever angry in his life, he was angry when the curtain rose on the second act. There he was, pacing about a sumptuous apartment, fuming with rage.
"If ever I loved any one in my life, it was that girl!" he cried. "And heaven knows what can have become of her." As a matter of fact, the Duke had some misgiving after he had left Gilda in the garden, and, later, he had returned. But he had found the place deserted and could get no news of her from that hour.
"Oh, but I would defend thee, if thou art in trouble," he cried; and in the midst of his excitement Marullo, Borsa, and Ceprano and other courtiers rushed into the room. All were fairly bursting with news of the escapade of the night before.
"Oh, Duke! Oh, Lord! What do you think? We have carried off the jester's sweetheart!"
"What?" The Duke stared and then gave a great cry. "Speak, speak. What have you done?"
"Where is she?" the Duke asked, hardly daring to trust his voice.
"Oh, joy!" the Duke exclaimed; then aside: "She is near me," and forgetting all about his friends he went out excitedly.
"Why did he turn away from us?" the men asked each other. "He has enjoyed our adventures before now." They were a little uneasy and were conferring together when Rigoletto came in. He was a pitiful-looking fellow, worn with a night of horror and weeping, but he came singing:
"La, la, la, la, la,"--pretending not to be agitated. "Pray what is the news?" he asked off-hand, seeking not to betray his agony of mind, till he should have learned something about his daughter.
"Pleasant morning, Rigoletto!" the men answered, mockingly, and glancing with grins at each other. "Pray what _is_ the news?" Rigoletto, half dead with anxiety, moved about the room looking for some sign of Gilda.
"Lord! See him fishing about in every corner for her? He thinks to find her under the table," one of them whispered, and the men burst out laughing.
Then Rigoletto discovered a handkerchief on the floor and snatched it, hoping to find a clue, but it was not hers. Just then a page ran in to say that the Duchess was asking for the Duke.
"He is still in bed," one of the men answered, watching the effect of that upon Rigoletto, who was listening to every word.