_Mon._ Ruffians! young gentleman. Blessed Mary save us!--'tis true, I am a stranger in these parts, but never did I hear of such neighbours. Well, well, I fear not for my child, she has no wealth to tempt a plunderer. Poverty is the mother of ills, but her offspring generally respect each other. Come, sir, finish the flask; and now let me prepare your chamber for the night. (_rises._) _Flor._ Kind hostess! I am bounden to you ever. (_rises and fills his glass_) Here's woman! beauteous, generous woman! _admired_ when we are happy, but in our adversity _adored_! (_drinks._) _Mon._ (_curtseying_) Sweet sir, down to the very ground I return your gallantry. _Flor._ Hist!--don't I hear footsteps in the wood? _Mon._ (_listening_) Ah, yes, perhaps my child returns to us. [The casement is thrust open, and _Bertrand_ with the two bravoes look into the cottage.] _Mon._ Ah! men in masks! _Bert._'Tis he! (_they disappear from the casement._) _Flor._ Swift! help me swift to bar the door! _Mon._ Ah! 'tis forced already! (_noise at door._) [The door is burst, the two bravoes instantly spring upon _Florian_ and grapple with him. _Bertrand_ seizes the woman.] _Mon._ Murder! murder! _Bert._ Silence, or you die! [_Florian_ struggles towards the centre of the stage in front, and is there forced down upon one knee.] _Flo._ Is it plunder that you seek? what is your purpose with me? speak! _San._ Learn it by this! (_raises his dagger._) _Bert._ Hold! not _here_, drag him into the wood, despatch him _there_! _Flo._ Inhuman villains! by your soul's best hope--I charge you--I implore you-- _Bert._ (_stamping furiously, and casting Monica from him_) Toward the wood! --Follow me! [_Bertrand_ turns to the door, and the bravoes struggle to force _Florian_ after him, at that instant, the unknown female enters from the wood, and pauses in the door-way exactly opposite to _Bertrand_, his advanced arm falls back nerveless by his side, his limbs shake with strong convulsion, and he reels backwards.] _Bert._ Support me, ah! save me, or I die! [The bravoes release _Florian_ to fly towards _Bertrand_, who sinks in their arms. The female, with a light and rapid step crosses in front of the group to the middle of the stage where _Florian_ remains kneeling, she spreads her wild drapery before the victim, and places herself between him and the ruffians in the attitude of protection.] _Bert._ (_pursuing her with his eye deliriously_) Look! look! she rises from the grave! she blasts me with her frown! away! away! heaven itself forbids the deed! [The ruffians rush forth into the wood again. _Florian_ and _Monica_ catch the hands of the unknown to their lips in transport, and the curtain falls suddenly upon the scene.] End of act I. ACT II. SCENE I.--_A gallery in the chateau._ Enter _Longueville_ and _Bertrand_.