Gabor. You may do so, and in safety; I know the assasin.

Siegend. Where is he?

Gabor (pointing to Ulric). Beside you! [Ulric rushes forward to attack Gabor; Siegendorf interposes. Siegend. Liar and fiend! but you shall not be slain; These walls are mine, and you are safe within them.

[He turns to Ulric. Ulric, repel this calumny, as I Will do. Iavow it is a growth so monstrous, I could not deem it earth-born : but,be calm; It will refute itself. But touch him not. [Ulric endeavours to compose himself. Gabor. Look at him, Count, and then hear me.

Siegend. (first to Gabor, and then looking at Ulric) I hear thee.

My God! you look—

Ulric. How?

as ever;

And poorer by suspicion on my name.
The Baron lost in that last outrage neither
Jewels nor gold; his life alone was sought,

A life which stood between the claims of others

To honours and estates, scarce less than princely.

Siegend. These hints, as vague as vain, attach no less

To me than to my son.

Gabor. I can't help that. But let the consequence alight on him Who feels himself the guilty one amongst us. I speak to you, Count Siegendorf, because I know you innocent, and deem you just. But ere I can proceed Dare you protect

me!

Dare you command me?

[Siegendorf first looks at the Hungarian, and then at Ulric, who has unbuckled his sabre and is drawing lines with it on the floor still in its sheath. Ulric. (looks at his father and says) Let the man go on!

Let him continue.

Gabor. I will not detain you

By speaking of myself much; I began Life early-and am what the world has made me.

At Frankfort, on the Oder, where I pass'd A winter in obscurity, it was

My chance at several places of resort
(Which I frequented sometimes, but not
often)

To hear related a strange circumstance,
In February last. A martial force,
Sent by the state, had, after strong resistance,
Secured a band of desperate men, supposed
Marauders from the hostile camp. They
proved,

However, not to be so-but banditti,
Whom either accident or enterprise
Had carried from their usual haunt-the

His judges, was attributed to witchcraft. Such was his influence: --I have no great faith

In any Magic save that of the MineI therefore deem'd him wealthy.-But my soul

Was roused with various feelings to seek out This Prodigy, if only to behold him.

Siegend. And did you so?

Gabor. You'll hear. Chance favour'd me: A popular affray in the public square Drew crowds together-it was one of those Occasions, where men's souls look out of them,

And show them as they are—even in their faces:

The moment my eye met his-I exclaim'd “This is the man!” though he was then,

as since,

With the nobles of the city. I felt sure I had not err'd, and watch'd him long and nearly:

Gabor. Still you owe me something, Though not for that-and I owed you my safety,

At least my seeming safety—when the slaves Of Stralenheim pursued me on the grounds That I had robb'd him.

Siegend. I conceal'd you—1, Whom, and whose house, you arraign, reviving viper!

Gabor. I accuse no man-save in my defence.

You, Count! have made yourself accuserjudge

Your hall's my court, your heart is my tribunal.

Be just, and I'll be merciful.
Siegend. You merciful!
You! Base calumniator!

Gabor. I. Twill rest

With me at last to be so. You conceal'd me—
In secret passages known to yourself,
You said, and to none else. At dead of night,

tures,

Stature and bearing-and amidst them all, 'Midst every natural and acquired distinction,

I could discern, methought, the assassin's eye And gladiator's heart.

Ulric (smiling). The tale sounds well. Gabor. And may sound better. He appear'd to me

One of those beings to whom Fortune bends
As she doth to the Daring—and on whom
The Fates of others oft depend; besides,
An indescribable sensation drew me
Near to this man, as if my Point of Fortune
Was to be fixed by him.-There I was wrong.
Siegend. And may not be right now.
Gabor. I follow'd him,
Solicited his notice- and obtain'd it-
Though not his friendship:-it was his
intention

To leave the city privately-we left it
Together-and together we arrived

In the poor town where Werner was conceal'd,

And Stralenheim was succour'd - Now we

dubious

Of tracing back my way- I saw a glimmer Through distant crannies of a twinkling light.

I follow'd it, and reach'd a door--a secret Portal which open'd to the chamber, where, With cautious hand and slow, having first undone

As much as made a crevice of the fastening, I look'd through, and beheld a purple bed, And on it Stralenheim !—

Siegend. Asleep! And yet You slew him-Wretch !

Gabor. He was already slain, And bleeding like a sacrifice. Blood became ice.

My own

For him at any time, as had been proved That morning-either in address or force. I turn'd, and fled-i' the dark: Chance, rather than

Skill, made me gain the secret door of the hall,

With you; you are wealthy, noble, trusted by The Imperial powers-You understand me? Siegend. Yes.—

Gabor. Not quite. You think me venal, and scarce true:

'Tis no less true, however, that my fortunes Have made me both at present; you shall aid me,

I would have aided you-and also have Been somewhat damaged in my name to save Yours and your son's. Weigh well what I have said.

Siegend. Dare you await the event of a few minutes' Deliberation?

Gabor (casts his eyes on Ulric, who is
leaning against a pillar).
If I should do so?
Siegend. I pledge my life for yours.
Withdraw into

This tower.

[Opens a turret-door. Gabor (hesitatingly). This is the second safe asylum

You have offer'd me.

Siegend. And was not the first so? Gabor. I know not that even now-but will approve

The second. I have still a further shield.— I did not enter Prague alone-and should I

if I

Had found you waking, Heaven alone can tell

What Vengeance and Suspicion might have prompted;

But ne'er slept Guilt as Werner slept that night.

Siegend. And yet I had horrid dreams! and such brief sleep

Some tongues without will wag in my behalf. Be brief in your decision!

Siegend. I will be so.

My word is sacred and irrevocable
Within these walls, but it extends no further.
Gabor. I'll take it for so much.
Siegend. (points to Ulric's sabre, still
upon the ground).

Take also thatsaw you eye it eagerly, and him

father

And now my dream is out!

Gabor. "Tis not my fault,

If I have read it. -- Well! I fled and hid me-
Chance led me here after so many moons—
And show'd me Werner in Count Siegendorf!
Werner, whom I had sought in huts in vain,
Inhabited the palace of a Sovereign!
You sought me, and have found me-now
you know

My secret, and may weigh its worth.
Siegend. (after a pause) Indeed!

Gabor. Is it Revenge or Justice which
inspires

Your meditation?

Siegend. Neither-I was weighing The value of your secret.

Gabor. You shall know it

At once - when you were poor, and I, though

poor,

Rich enough to relieve such poverty
As might have envied mine, I offer'd you
My purse-you would not share it :-I'll
be franker

Gabor (takes up the sabre). I will; and so provide

To sell my life-not cheaply.

[Gabor goes into the turret, which Siegendorf closes.

Siegend. (advances to Ulric) Now, Count

Ulric!

When we met in the garden, what except Discovery in the act could make me know His death? Or had the Prince's household

been

Then summon'd, would the cry for the police Been left to such a stranger? Or should I Have loiter'd on the way? Or could you, Werner,

The object of the Baron's hate and fears, Have fled-unless by many an hour before Suspicion woke? I sought and fathom'd youDoubting if you were false or feeble; I Perceived you were the latter; and yet so Confiding have I found you, that I doubted At times your weakness.

Siegend. Parricide! no less

Than common stabber! What deed of my life,

Or thought of mine, could make you deem me fit

For your accomplice?

Ulric. Father, do not raise

The devil you cannot lay, between us. This
Is time for union and for action, not
For family-disputes. While you were tor-
tured

Could I be calm? Think you that I have

heard

This fellow's tale without some feeling? you Have taught me feeling for you and myself; For whom or what else did you ever teach it? Siegend. Oh! my dead father's curse!

'tis working now.

Ulric. Let it work on the grave will keep it down!

Ashes are feeble foes: it is more easy
To baffle such, than countermine a mole,
Which winds its blind but living path
beneath you.

Yet hear me still! - If you condemn me, yet Remember who hath taught me once too often

To listen to him! Who proclaim'd to me That there were crimes made venial by the occasion?

That passion was our nature? that the goods

Of heaven waited on the goods of fortune? Who show'd me his humanity secured

By his nerves only? Who deprived me of AİL power to vindicate myself and race In open day? By his disgrace which stamp'd (It might be) bastardy on me, and on Himself- -a felon's brand! The man who is At once both warm and weak, invites to deeds

He longs to do, but dare not. Is it strange That I should act what you could think? We have done

With right and wrong; and now must only ponder

Upon effects, not causes. Stralenheim, Whose life I saved, from impulse,as,unknown, I would have saved a peasant's or a dog's,

I slew,

Was a rock in our way, which I cut through,
As doth the bolt, because it stood between us
And our true destination—but not idly.
As stranger I preserved him, and he owed me
His life; when due, I but resumed the debt.
He, you, and I stood o'er a gulf, wherein
I have plunged our enemy. You kindled
first

The torch -- you show'd the path: now trace me that

Of safety-or let me!

Siegend. I have done with life!

Ulric. Let us have done with that which cankers life

Familiar feuds and vain recriminations
Of things which cannot be undone. We have
No more to learn or hide: I know no fear,
And have within these very walls men
who

(Although you know them not) dare venture all things.

You stand high with the state; what passes here

Will not excite her too great curiosity: Keep your own secret, keep a steady eye, Stir not, and speak not;-leave the rest

to me:

It seems: I might have guess'd as much. Oh fool!

Wolves prowl in company. He hath the key (As I too) of the opposite door which leads Into the turret. Now then! or once more To be the father of fresh crimes—no less Than of the criminal! Ho! Gabor! Gabor! [Exit into the turret, closing the door after him.

SCENE II.-The Interior of the Turret. GABOR and SIEGENDORF.

Gabor. Who calls? Siegend. I-Siegendorf! Take these, and fly!

Lose not a moment!

[Tears off a diamond-star and other jewels, and thrusts them into Gabor's hand.

Gabor. What am I to do With these?

Siegend. Whate'er you will: sell them, or hoard,

And prosper; but delay not-or you are lost!