_Ernest_--By my father's memory I swear it! _Julian_--You profane his name and his memory by the oath. _Ernest_--By my mother's last kiss-- _Julian_--It is no longer on your brow. _Ernest_--By all you hold most sacred, father, I swear it, I swear it! _Julian_--Let there be no oaths, no deceitful words, no protests. _Ernest_--Well, then, what do you wish? _Teodora_--What do you wish? _Julian_--Deeds! _Ernest_--What does he desire, Teodora? What would he have us do? _Teodora_--I do not know. What can we do, what can we do, Ernest? _Julian_ [_watching them with instinctive distrust_]--Ah, would you deceive me to my very face? You are laying your plans together, wretches! Do I not see it? _Ernest_--These are the imaginings of fever. _Julian_--Fever, yes! The fire of fever has consumed the bandage with which you both blindfolded me, and at last I see clearly! And now why do you gaze on each other? why, traitors? Why do your eyes shine, Ernest? Speak. Their brightness is not the brightness of tears. Come nearer--nearer still. [_Draws Ernest to him, bends his head, and so forces him to his knees. Don Julian thus remains between Teodora, who stands at his side, and Ernest, who kneels at his feet. Don Julian passes his hand over Ernest's eyes._] _Julian_--I was right--It is not with tears! They are dry! _Ernest_--Pardon!--Pardon! _Julian_--You ask my pardon? Then you confess your guilt. _Ernest_--No! _Julian_--Yes! _Ernest_--It is not that! _Julian_--Then look into each other's eyes before me. _Severo_--Julian! _Mercedes_--Sir! _Julian_ [_to Teodora and Ernest_]--You are afraid, then? You do not love each other like brother and sister, then? If you do, prove it! Let your souls rise to your eyes and in my presence mingle their reflection there, that so I may see, watching them closely, if that brightness is the brightness of light or of fire. You too, Teodora--I will have it so. Come--both; nearer still! [_Forces Teodora to kneel before him, draws their faces together, and compels them to look at each other._] _Teodora_ [_freeing herself by a violent effort_]--Oh no! _Ernest_ [_also tries to release himself, but Julian holds him in his grasp_]--I cannot! _Julian_--You love each other! You love each other! I see it clearly! [_To Ernest._] Your life! _Ernest_--Yes. _Julian_--Your blood! _Ernest_--All! _Julian_ [_keeping him on his knees_]--Remain there. _Teodora_--Julian! [_Restraining him._] _Julian_--Ah, you defend him, you defend him. _Teodora_--Not for his sake. _Severo_--In Heaven's name-- _Julian_ [_to Severo_]--Silence! Bad friend! bad son! [_Holding him at his feet._] _Ernest_--Father! _Julian_--Disloyal! Treacherous! _Ernest_--No, father. _Julian_--Thus do I brand you as a traitor on the cheek--now with my hand, soon with my sword! [_With a supreme effort he raises himself and strikes Ernest on the face._]