[_He leaves her_ Now native courage warm my wavering breast, And fires of resolution blaze within me, For I must on a dangerous errand go, With secret cunning to deceive the foe, Whose active souls in dire connections meet, Where one false step my ruin makes complete. Ye guardian powers that still protect the brave, Some pity on distressed Britain have. By me she seeks some portion to regain Of her lost empire, tried so oft in vain. But dreadful scenes before my eyes appear, And dangers thicken as they draw more near. But soft--no dangers can my heart appal, I have a soul that can despise them all. More than an equal chance for life I see, But life and death must be the same to me. [_Exit_ ACT III. SCENE I.--_Robinson's house. A stormy night._ ARNOLD. PASQUIN. _Arnold._ How looks the weather? _Pasquin._ Stormy, sir; very stormy; it blows terrifically and there is heavy rain. _Arnold._ Pasquin! _Pasquin._ Sir. _Arnold._ Tell the sentries upon duty to-night that I expect a gentleman of my acquaintance here about ten o'clock. When he comes to the outer gate, bid one of them conduct him to my apartment. _Pasquin._ Your honour shall be obeyed. [_Exit_ _Arnold_ (_solus_). Peace to this gloomy grove that sees me acting What open daylight would disdain to own. Ye wood, be witness of my dark designs, And shade me o'er, ye lofty eminences; Tremendous gloom, encompass me around In clouds that wing from Greenland's foggy caves, Plutonian darkness on your pinions bring, Conceal my base intent from human view, And be the daylight still a stranger to it. Storm on, ye wind, the tempest that ye make In the broad regions of the troubled ether Is quiet to the tumult of my soul! Departing honour,--take thy last adieu, 'Tis this night's deed that stamps me for a villain. Who comes there? [_Enter Pasquin_ _Pasquin._ Sir, there is a traveller just alighted at Sergeant Jones's quarters, who desires to know whether he can have a little private conference with you, and asked me whether you were alone or no. _Arnold._ A traveller? How is he dressed? _Pasquin._ He has on a plain suit of blue clothes, a cocked beaver hat and draw boots. He rides a common bay horse, and by his general appearance one would suppose him to be a commissary, or perhaps a quarter-master. _Arnold._ How came you to know all these particulars; the night being so dark and stormy? _Pasquin._ I had a glimpse of him by means of a lanthorn we carried out when he got off his horse. Over all, I forgot to mention, he had a fear-naught riding coat. _Arnold._ A plain blue suit, you say? _Pasquin._ Yes. _Arnold._ And draw boots? _Pasquin._ Yes. _Arnold._ And wore he sword? _Pasquin._ No; he had no sword, that I saw. _Arnold._ And what aspect is he? Is he a well-looking man?