_Cec._ I had long been looking out for a congenial spirit! My heart was withered, but the beams of yours have rekindled it. _Mat._ A sudden thought strikes me: let us swear an eternal friendship. _Cec._ Let us agree to live together! _Mat._ Willingly. [_With rapidity and earnestness._ _Cec._ Let us embrace. [_They embrace._ _Mat._ Yes; I too have loved!--you, too, like me, have been forsaken! [_Doubtingly and as if with a desire to be informed._ _Cec._ Too true! _Both._ Ah, these men! these men! LANDLADY _enters, and places a leg of mut'on on the table, with sour krout and prune sauce_--_then a small dish of black puddings._ CECILIA _and_ MATILDA _appear to take no notice of her._ _Mat._ Oh, Casimere! _Cec._ [_aside_.] Casimere! that name! Oh, my heart, how it is distracted with anxiety. _Mat._ Heavens! Madam, you turn pale. _Cec._ Nothing--a slight megrim--with your leave, I will retire. _Mat._ I will attend you. [_Exeunt_ MATILDA _and_ CECILIA. _Manent_ LANDLADY _and_ WAITER _with the dinner on the table_. _Land._ Have you carried the dinner to the prisoner in the vaults of the abbey! _Waiter._ Yes. Pease-soup, as usual--with the scrag-end of a neck of mutton--the emissary of the Count was here again this morning, and offered me a large sum of money if I would consent to poison him. _Land._ Which you refused? [_With hesitation and anxiety._ _Waiter._ Can you doubt it? [_With indignation._ _Land._ [_recovering herself, and drawing up with an expression of dignity_.] The conscience of a poor man is as valuable to him as that of a prince. _Waiter._ It ought to be still more so, in proportion as it is generally more pure. _Land._ Thou say'st truly, Job. _Waiter_ [_with enthusiasm_.] He who can spurn at wealth when proffer'd as the price of crime, is greater than a prince. _Post-horn blows. Enter_ CASIMERE, _in a travelling dress--a light blue great-coat with large metal buttons--his hair in a long queue, but twisted at the end; a large Kevenhuller hat; a cane in his hand._ _Cas._ Here, waiter, pull of my boots, and bring me a pair of slippers [_Exit_ WAITER.] And heark'ye, my lad, a bason of water [_rubbing his hands_] and a bit of soap--I have not washed since I began my journey. _Waiter_ [_answering from behind the door_.] Yes, sir. _Cas._ Well, landlady, what company are we to have? _Land._ Only two gentlewomen, sir. They are just stepp'd into the next room--they will be back again in a minute. _Cas._ Where do they come from? [_All this while the_ WAITER _re-enters with the bason and water_, CASIMERE _pulls off his boots, takes a napkin from the table, and washes his face and hands_. _Land._ There is one of them, I think, comes from Nuremburgh. _Cas._ [_aside_.] From Nuremburgh; [_with eagerness_] her name? _Land._ Matilda. _Cas._ [_aside_.] How does this idiot woman torment me! What else?