DON SALLUST: Zafari can die, And Cesar, Count of Garofa, revive, And dazzle all the ladies of the court With his fine presence, and the wealth I'll give, If he will serve me, as a cousin should, Boldly and faithfully. DON CESAR: Ah, this sounds well. Give me a hundred ducats to begin, And I am your man! What do you want of me? Some rival quietly despatched? DON SALLUST: I need A daring, gallant and ambitious man To help me to avenge myself. DON CESAR: On whom? DON SALLUST: A woman. DON CESAR: I have fallen very low, Don Sallust, but I have not come to that. Murder may be my trade, but to bring down A woman by a dastardly intrigue Is something I would never stoop to do! I am a wolf, maybe, but not a snake! DON SALLUST: Give me your hand, my cousin! You have come Out of the ordeal I prepared for you Better than I expected. DON CESAR: Then this plot Against a woman---- DON SALLUST: Merely was a test. I'll give you now the money you require. A hundred ducats, was it? I will fetch them. [_He departs, and signs to_ RUY BLAS _to enter._ DON CESAR: I knew you in your strange disguise, Ruy Blas. What are you doing here? RUY BLAS: Ah, Zafari! Hunger has now compelled me to adopt The livery of a lackey. Don Sallust To-night engaged me as his servitor, And brought me here. And I came, Zafari, Because---- (_He hesitates._) DON CESAR: You wanted food! RUY BLAS: No. It was love I hungered for. DON CESAR: There are some pretty maids In this great palace. RUY BLAS: I am mad, mad, mad! I am in love, Zafari, with the queen-- I, a lackey. Night after night I creep Into the royal park, and leave some flowers Upon her favourite seat. This evening I put a letter with them. DON CESAR: My poor friend, You certainly are mad! DON SALLUST (_opening the door slightly and pointing out_ DON CESAR _to three armed alguazils as he whispers_): That is the man. Arrest him when he leaves. And kill him quickly. [_He then enters the room, and gives a purse to_ DON CESAR, _saying:_ Here is what you want. Call on me to-morrow. DON CESAR (_giving_ RUY BLAS _half the ducats_): Come with me. Be a free man again. DON SALLUST (_in an aside_): The devil! RUY BLAS (_refusing the money_): No; I never shall be a free man again. My heart is captive; I must stay on here. DON CESAR: Well, each man to his fate. Your hand, old friend! [_After shaking hands, he goes out--to his doom._ DON SALLUST: No one has seen you yet, I think, Ruy Blas, Clad in this livery? RUY BLAS: No one, my lord. DON SALLUST: Good! Shut the doors, and put on this attire.