oods. I reached the secret
entrance of that pass, just as the turret fell and screened me from
pursuit. Concealing darkness wrapt my flying steps: the roar of death
sank far behind, and ere the dawn, in safety with my child, I gained the
forest.

_Bert._ Your child! eternal powers! the infant then escaped my blow.

_Eug._ Thy dagger's point twice scarred his innocent hand, but failed
to reach the life. (_Bertrand gesticulates his transport_) A sanguine
cross indelibly remained; but nature and his mother's tears assuaged the
pain. Charitable foresters, ignorant of our rank, relieved our wants and
changed our robes for rustic weeds; thus disguised, my infant in my
arms, on foot I travelled far and long, seeking ever by the loneliest
paths, to reach my sovereign's court, and at the throne of power implore
for justice.

_Bert._ O! does the infant yet survive? Speak, lady! bless me with those
words--he lives.

_Eug._ No, Bertrand, no; fortune but mocked me with a moment's hope to
curse me deeper still through ages of despair. In vain I snatched my
darling boy from poniard and from flame: when way-lost in the
wilderness, but for a moment did I quit my treasure, the mazes of the
wood ensnared my step: the fever of my body rushed upon my brain:
I wandered, never to return; while my forsaken infant--he perished,
Bertrand. Ah! my brain begins to burn afresh! mark me, he perished
terribly: inquire not further.

_Bert._ (_deeply affected._) Thou suffering excellence! be witness
heaven! the monster that I was, no longer has a life; thy tears have
drowned it quite, and now it strangely melts in pity and remorse. Come,
lady, let me bestow thee in a safe retreat: the hoarded wages of my
sinful youth, I'll use as offerings to redeem thy peace: far hence in
foreign lands a certain refuge waits our flight, and there secure from
Longueville--

[The _Baron_ suddenly stands before them in the centre: _Eugenia_
shrieks and _Bertrand_ stands aghast and trembles.]

_Bert._ Undone forever?

_Long._ (_furiously to Sanguine_) Guard well the door--let not a
creature enter or depart.

[_Sanguine_ advances by his direction. _Eugenia_ flies by the
stairs to the upper chamber. _Longueville_, after a short pause of
indecisive passion, draws a poniard and seizes upon _Bertrand_.]

_Long._ Wretch!

_Bert._ Strike! yes, deep in this guilty bosom, strike at once, and rid
me of despair.

_Long._ Thou double traitor! thy p