_Eug._ No, Bertrand, no; fortune but mocked me with a moment's hope to curse me deeper still through ages of despair. In vain I snatched my darling boy from poniard and from flame: when way-lost in the wilderness, but for a moment did I quit my treasure, the mazes of the wood ensnared my step: the fever of my body rushed upon my brain: I wandered, never to return; while my forsaken infant--he perished, Bertrand. Ah! my brain begins to burn afresh! mark me, he perished terribly: inquire not further. _Bert._ (_deeply affected._) Thou suffering excellence! be witness heaven! the monster that I was, no longer has a life; thy tears have drowned it quite, and now it strangely melts in pity and remorse. Come, lady, let me bestow thee in a safe retreat: the hoarded wages of my sinful youth, I'll use as offerings to redeem thy peace: far hence in foreign lands a certain refuge waits our flight, and there secure from Longueville-- [The _Baron_ suddenly stands before them in the centre: _Eugenia_ shrieks and _Bertrand_ stands aghast and trembles.] _Bert._ Undone forever? _Long._ (_furiously to Sanguine_) Guard well the door--let not a creature enter or depart. [_Sanguine_ advances by his direction. _Eugenia_ flies by the stairs to the upper chamber. _Longueville_, after a short pause of indecisive passion, draws a poniard and seizes upon _Bertrand_.] _Long._ Wretch! _Bert._ Strike! yes, deep in this guilty bosom, strike at once, and rid me of despair. _Long._ Thou double traitor! thy perjuries now meet their just reward. Tremble at impending death. _Bert._ No; I have not feared to live in vice, and will not shrink at least to die for virtue. _Long._ (_throwing him off._) No; I will not take the wretched forfeit: thou'rt spared from hate, not pity; I gave thee back thy life, but I will study punishments, to make the boon a curse unutterable. _Bert._ Tyrant, I defy thy vengeance to increase my torments; the innocent, I pledged myself to save, already stands devoted to destruction, and the measure of my anguish and despair is full. _Long._ (_to Sanguine_) Sanguine, ascend the stair, and force that wretched woman to my presence. _Bert._ Hold, hold, my lord! recal those threatning words. O God! what damning crime is in your thoughts? pause--yet for a moment, pause, ere you barter to the fiend your soul for ages. Omnipotence hath interposed with miracles and still preserved you from the guilt you sought, your conscience yet is undefiled with blood. _Long._ Away! my purpose is resolved. _Bert._ Will you then reject the mercy Heaven extends? (_kneels and catching his cloak._) Hear me, my lord; nay, for your own eternal being, hear me; as you now deal with this afflicted innocent, even so, hereafter, shall the God of judgment deal with you. _Long._ I brave the peril, (_call aloud_) hasten, Sanguine, produce my victim. _Bert._ (_Desperately._) Cover me mountains! hide me from the sun! (_He casts himself upon the ground._)