e bravoes struggle to force
_Florian_ after him, at that instant, the unknown female enters
from the wood, and pauses in the door-way exactly opposite to
_Bertrand_, his advanced arm falls back nerveless by his side, his
limbs shake with strong convulsion, and he reels backwards.]

_Bert._ Support me, ah! save me, or I die!

[The bravoes release _Florian_ to fly towards _Bertrand_, who
sinks in their arms. The female, with a light and rapid step
crosses in front of the group to the middle of the stage where
_Florian_ remains kneeling, she spreads her wild drapery before
the victim, and places herself between him and the ruffians in
the attitude of protection.]

_Bert._ (_pursuing her with his eye deliriously_) Look! look! she rises
from the grave! she blasts me with her frown! away! away! heaven itself
forbids the deed!

[The ruffians rush forth into the wood again. _Florian_ and
_Monica_ catch the hands of the unknown to their lips in
transport, and the curtain falls suddenly upon the scene.]

End of act I.

ACT II.

SCENE I.--_A gallery in the chateau._

Enter _Longueville_ and _Bertrand_.

_Long._ Traitor! infamous, unblushing traitor! Florian has arrived,
arrived in safety: every way I have been betrayed; and now to screen
your perfidy from punishment, you dare insult my ear with forgeries too
monstrous and too gross for patience.

_Bert._ Hear me, my lord! as I have life, as I have a soul, so have I
spoken truly, the grave yawned asunder to forbid the blow, it was no
vision of my cowardice--I saw--distinctly saw-it was _Eugenia_! as in
her days of nature, entire and undecayed, the spectre-form stood
terribly before me, it moved--it gazed--it frowned me into madness!

_Long._ Villain! still would you deceive me!

_Bert._ Ah, my lord, you would deceive yourself. I swear it was Eugenia,
her shadowy arms were stretched between the lifted dagger and the
prostrate youth; while her swift dark eye flashed on mine with
brightness insupportable: such was her dreadful look, when, with her
bleeding infant clinging to her breast, she sprang into the flames,
and--

_Long._ Hush! [_the doors of an inner chamber open, and De Valmont
appears conversing with Florian and Geraldine._] We are interrupted;
quick! change those ruffled features into smiles, quick! mark me,
wretch!

_De Val._ (_coming forward_) My boy, your preservation was indeed a