_Mous._ (_furiously_). Fiends tear your throat to rags!--No, no, I rave---- Hilda--come back to me--I’ll be thy slave, Thy willing slave once more! I did but jest: My jest is dead and gone--come back to me! I will release thee from thy plighted troth: I love thee--love thee--love thee! Oh, come back, And save my soul and body! ’Twas a jest-- An idle jest. I am thy drudging slave, No more than that! I never thought of love-- ’Twas but a jest--’twas idly done, but well-- Oh, Lady Hilda--oh, come back to me! _Enter FLORIAN._ _Flor._ What is this outcry? _Mous._ It concerns you not. _Flor._ Where is the Lady Hilda? _Mous._ Who shall say? _Flor._ Why, thou shalt say. As there’s a heaven above I’ll wring a civil answer from thy lips. _Mous._ Take any answer that may fit your mood, And leave me to myself. I’m not in cue For more cross-questioning. _Flor._ Thine impish tongue Is set awry to-day. _Mous._ (_savagely_). It _is_ awry. Take care! But stay; when you were seeking for Your Talisman, you bade me ascertain, If any one were missing. Very well, The Lady Hilda’s missing. _Flor._ Foolish ape, Dost thou infer-- _Mous._ I draw no inference. I state the figures--add them for thyself. _Enter HILDA, still veiled; she gazes in amazement at FLORIAN._ _Hil._ (_aside_). Merciful Heaven, restore me if I rave-- _His_ form, _his_ face, _his_ voice! _Flor._ (_to MOUSTA_). Base liar, know That we are plighted lovers, she and I-- She gave her heart to me but yesternight; Why should she hide herself from me to-day? _Mous._ Perhaps excess of joy hath driven her mad! _Flor._ I’ll not believe thy tale. The maid is here, And can and shall be found! _Mous._ Well, go and search. And if thou findest her, why, I’m a liar-- Reward me as thou wilt! _Flor._ A fit reward Will be a yard of steel between thy ribs, And thou shalt have it! _Mous._ Thank you kindly, sir! [_Exit MOUSTA; FLORIAN sits dejectedly by fountain._ _Hil._ ’Twas he that spake to me! How can I doubt? Are there two such as he? Oh, Heaven, is this The senseless herald of a mind unstrung? Let me be sure. He spake of me, who long had mourned him dead-- He told how, shrouded from my gaze last night, He gave his love to me. Oh, gentle Heaven, Give me more strength to bear this weight of joy! [_She advances to reveal herself, when VAVIR enters, and sits lovingly at FLORIAN’S feet. HILDA, horrified, veils herself again._