_Princess of Eboli_. Angel of light! Pure being! Yet you know not—you suspect not The demon whom you smile upon so sweetly. {711} Now learn to know him. I—I was the felon Who robbed your casket. _Queen_. You? _Princess of Eboli_. And who delivered That letter to the king. _Queen_. You? _Princess of Eboli_. And who dared Accuse you. _Queen_. You—you could—— _Princess of Eboli_. Revenge—love—madness— I hated you—I loved the prince. _Queen_. You loved him? _Princess of Eboli_. I told him of my passion—and I found No answering love. _Queen_. (_after a pause_) Oh now—is all unriddled! Stand up: you loved him—I forgive you all— All is forgotten now; arise! (_takes her by the arm_.) _Princess of Eboli_. No—no! A horrible confession yet remains. Not yet, great queen! After the disclosure which ensues, the queen, in silence, retires to her closet. She can forgive duplicity and malice towards herself, but her nature revolts from such infamy as is revealed to her. The Duchess of Olivarez enters from the closet, and demands from the prostrate princess her cross and key; she delivers them up, listens a few moments in vain for the queen's return, then despairing, rushes out. In the presence of Elizabeth, the Marquis of Posa speaks in a tone of the greatest despondency, announcing the loss of the game in which he had staked his life. Yet he quiets her apprehensions on the prince's account; the cause demanded one victim, and he has devoted himself. With melancholy presentiment of his own approaching fate, he commits his friend to the queen, whom he beseeches to regard him with unalterable affection, that he may yet fulfil the high destiny reserved for him and be a benefactor to his people. In the mean time the king's ante-room is crowded by the nobles of Spain, and the royal ministers, waiting to see the monarch, who has forbid all access to his person. Don Raimond von Taxis brings an intercepted letter to the Prince of Orange, that he must deliver to Philip without delay. He enters the royal cabinet; Alba and Domingo remain without in suspense, trembling for their own fate; the other courtiers busy themselves in conjectures respecting the strange conduct of the king—the imprisonment of his son, and the ominous aspect of affairs. Count Lerma comes into the ante-chamber, apparently shocked, and summons Alba to the presence. The princess of Eboli hastily enters from without and is rushing to the king, but is held back by Domingo; at length Alba returns and announces their complete triumph.