GERARD. There is a lamp that's full i' the midst. Under a red square in the painted glass Of Lady Mildred's... TRESHAM. Leave that name out! Well? That lamp? GERARD. Is moved at midnight higher up To one pane--a small dark-blue pane; he waits For that among the boughs: at sight of that, I see him, plain as I see you, my lord, Open the lady's casement, enter there... TRESHAM. --And stay? GERARD. An hour, two hours. TRESHAM. And this you saw Once?--twice?--quick! GERARD. Twenty times. TRESHAM. And what brings you Under the yew-trees? GERARD. The first night I left My range so far, to track the stranger stag That broke the pale, I saw the man. TRESHAM. Yet sent No cross-bow shaft through the marauder? GERARD. But He came, my lord, the first time he was seen, In a great moonlight, light as any day, FROM Lady Mildred's chamber. TRESHAM [after a pause]. You have no cause --Who could have cause to do my sister wrong? GERARD. Oh, my lord, only once--let me this once Speak what is on my mind! Since first I noted All this, I've groaned as if a fiery net Plucked me this way and that--fire if I turned To her, fire if I turned to you, and fire If down I flung myself and strove to die. The lady could not have been seven years old When I was trusted to conduct her safe Through the deer-herd to stroke the snow-white fawn I brought to eat bread from her tiny hand Within a month. She ever had a smile To greet me with--she... if it could undo What's done, to lop each limb from off this trunk... All that is foolish talk, not fit for you-- I mean, I could not speak and bring her hurt For Heaven's compelling. But when I was fixed To hold my peace, each morsel of your food Eaten beneath your roof, my birth-place too, Choked me. I wish I had grown mad in doubts What it behoved me do. This morn it seemed Either I must confess to you or die: Now it is done, I seem the vilest worm That crawls, to have betrayed my lady. TRESHAM. No-- No, Gerard! GERARD. Let me go! TRESHAM. A man, you say: What man? Young? Not a vulgar hind? What dress? GERARD. A slouched hat and a large dark foreign cloak Wraps his whole form; even his face is hid; But I should judge him young: no hind, be sure! TRESHAM. Why? GERARD. He is ever armed: his sword projects Beneath the cloak. TRESHAM. Gerard,--I will not say No word, no breath of this!