SCENE IV.--[_The inner cavern, partially lighted with lamps. In the middle, folding doors guarded with iron bars; on one side a rough hewn staircase leading to a small door above._] Gomez, Marcos, _and conspirators, discovered in listening attitudes_. _Gom._ 'Tis strange, the time is past, and yet not here? _Mar._ Henriquez too is absent. _Gom._ Steps approach. [_Kneeling at the folding door._] Who knocks? _Hen._ (_without_) A friend. _Mar._ The pass word. _Hen._ Empire. _Gom._ Open. [Marcos _unbars the door_.] Henriquez, Melchior, _and_ Lucio, _enter through the folding doors, which_ Marcos _again closes_. _Gom._ Friends welcome. Melchior, is thy work complete? _Mel._ Complete, and fit for springing. Nought is wanting. The train is laid. One spark and all is done. Our chief alone---- _Gom._ The private door unlocks. _Hen._ Caesario only has the key. _Mel._ 'Tis he. Caesario _descends the staircase swiftly. His looks are wild; his hair flows loose; and he grasps a bloody dagger_. _All._ Welcome, Caesario, welcome! _Caesa._ Ay, shout, shout, And, kneeling greet your blood anointed king, This steel his sceptre. Tremble, dwarfs in guilt, And own your master. Thou art proof, Henriquez, 'Gainst pity. I once saw thee stab in battle A page who clasped thy knees; and Melchior, there Made quick work with a brother whom he hated But what did I this night? Hear, hear, and reverence! There was a breast on which my head had rested A thousand times; a breast which loved me fondly, As Heaven loves martyred saints; and yet this breast I stabbed, knaves, stabbed it to the heart! Wine, wine, there! For my soul's joyous. [Gomez _brings a goblet_.] _Hen._ Friend, what means this frenzy? What hast thou done? Where is Ottilia? _Caesa._ (_dashing down the goblet_) Dead! Dead, Marquis! At that word how the vault rings, And the ground shakes. It shall not shake my purpose. Murder and I are grown familiar, friends. The assassin's trade is sweet. I've tasted blood, And thirst for more. Say, is the mine---- _Mel._ All's ready. _Caesa._ Who fires the train? _Hen. Mel. and all the conspirators._ I, I! _Caesa._ Oh, cheerful cry! Oh! glorious strife for guilt: Let each man throw His dagger in my casque; be his the service, Whose steel I draw. _Hen._ 'Tis me---- _Caesa._ [_To_ Lucio.] Thy torch, boy, [_giving it to_ Henriquez.] Take it! Here lies thy way--speed, speed, and let yon vaults, Shivering in fragments, tell my ravished ear Alfonso dies. Away, away!--[_On his throwing open the folding doors_, Amelrosa _is discovered_.] _Amel._ Forbear! _All._ The princess.