_Ferdinand (stammering)._ Next, next--my lord! You know you told me that the lady loved you, Had loved you with incautious tenderness. That if the young man, her betrothéd husband, 50 Return'd, yourself, and she, and an unborn babe, Must perish. Now, my lord! to be a man! _Osorio (aloud, though to express his contempt he speaks in the third person)._ This fellow is a man! he kill'd for hire One whom he knew not--yet has tender scruples. [_Then turning to FERDINAND._ Thy hums and ha's, thy whine and stammering. 55 Pish--fool! thou blunder'st through the devil's book, Spelling thy villany! _Ferdinand._ My lord--my lord! I can bear much, yes, very much from you. But there's a point where sufferance is meanness! I am no villain, never kill'd for hire. 60 My gratitude---- _Osorio._ O! aye, your gratitude! 'Twas a well-sounding word--what have you done with it? _Ferdinand._ Who proffers his past favours for my virtue Tries to o'erreach me, is a very sharper, And should not speak of gratitude, my lord! 65 I knew not 'twas your brother! _Osorio (evidently alarmed)._ And who told you? _Ferdinand._ He himself told me. _Osorio._ Ha! you talk'd with him? And those, the two Morescoes, that went with you? _Ferdinand._ Both fell in a night-brawl at Malaga. _Osorio (in a low voice)._ My brother! _Ferdinand._ Yes, my lord! I could not tell you: 70 I thrust away the thought, it drove me wild. But listen to me now. I pray you, listen! _Osorio._ Villain! no more! I'll hear no more of it. _Ferdinand._ My lord! it much imports your future safety That you should hear it. _Osorio (turning off from Ferdinand)._ Am I not a man? 75 'Tis as it should be! Tut--the deed itself Was idle--and these after-pangs still idler! _Ferdinand._ We met him in the very place you mention'd, Hard by a grove of firs. _Osorio._ Enough! enough! _Ferdinand._ He fought us valiantly, and wounded all; 80 In fine, compell'd a parley! _Osorio (sighing as if lost in thought)._ Albert! Brother! _Ferdinand._ He offer'd me his purse. _Osorio._ Yes?