FRANCIS. Betrayed! betrayed! The spirit of the dead are vomited from their graves. The realm of death, shaken out of its eternal slumber, roars at me, "Murderer, murderer!" Who moves there? DANIEL (frightened). Help, holy Virgin! help! Is it you, my gracious master, whose shrieks echo so terribly through the castle that every one is aroused out of his sleep? FRANCIS. Sleep? And who gave thee leave to sleep? Go, get lights! (Exit DANIEL. Enter another servant.) No one shall sleep at this hour. Do you hear? All shall be awake--in arms--let the guns be loaded! Did you not see them rushing through yon vaulted passages? SERVANT. See whom, my lord? FRANCIS. Whom? you dolt, slave! And do you, with a cold and vacant stare, ask me whom? Have they not beset me almost to madness? Whom? blockhead! whom? Ghosts and demons! How far is the night advanced? SERVANT. The watch has just called two. FRANCIS. What? will this eternal night last till doomsday? Did you hear no tumult near? no shout of victory? no trampling of horses? Where is Char--the Count, I would say? SERVANT. I know not, my lord. FRANCIS. You know not? And are you too one of his gang? I'll tread your villain's heart out through your ribs for that infernal "I know not!" Begone, fetch the minister! SERVANT. My lord! FRANCIS. What! Do you grumble? Do you demur? (Exit servant hastily.) Do my very slaves conspire against me? Heaven, earth, and hell--all conspire against me! DANIEL (returns with a lighted candle). My lord! FRANCIS. Who said I trembled? No!--'twas but a dream. The dead still rest in their graves! Tremble! or pale? No, no! I am calm--quite tranquil. DANIEL. You are as pale as death, my lord; your voice is weak and faltering. FRANCIS. I am somewhat feverish. When the minister comes be sure you say I am in a fever. Say that I intend to be bled in the morning. DANIEL. Shall I give you some drops of the balsam of life on sugar? FRANCIS. Yes, balsam of life on sugar! The minister will not be here just yet. My voice is weak and faltering. Give me of the balsam of life on sugar! DANIEL. Let me have the keys, I will go down to the closet and get it. FRANCIS. No! no! no! Stay!--or I will go with you. You see I must not be left alone! How easily I might, you see--faint--if I should be left alone. Never mind, never mind! It will pass off--you must not leave me. DANIEL. Indeed, Sir, you are ill, very ill. FRANCIS. Yes, just so, just so, nothing more. And illness, you know, bewilders the brain, and breeds strange and maddening dreams. What signify dreams? Dreams come from the stomach and cannot signify anything. Is it not so, Daniel? I had a very comical dream just now. (He sinks down fainting.) DANIEL. Oh, merciful heaven! what is this? George!--Conrad! Sebastian! Martin! Give but some sign of life! (Shaking him.) Oh, the Blessed Virgin! Oh, Joseph! Keep but your reason! They will say I have murdered him! Lord have mercy upon me!