by this high tribunal, your friends shall
welcome you with added honour! But if you shall rashly disobey the
summons, your death is certain, and you doom those friends--mark
that--you doom, perhaps, your dearest friends, to turn assassins, and
destroy that life, which, but for selfish and for dastard terror, had
been preserved to bless them.

[Agnes _eagerly regarding_ Ravensburg, _who shows extreme agitation._]

_Ag._ I see! it breaks! it bursts upon my mind! and though none know
where the free knights meet, all are acquainted with their dreaded
forms; and soon, and soon will a minister of vengeance come--(_crosses
to Ravensburg_)--to summon the accused. (_Trumpets._) My lord--take
courage! I'm no more a coward. (_She takes Ravensburg's hand._) Feel--do
I tremble? Am I by selfish terror influenced? No, mighty Sir, (_to the
prince_) behold what conscious innocence effects! And see, where
sympathy and pity prompts, a woman's spirit emulates your own,
(_embracing Ravensburg._) Farewell, kind, generous friend! Now, Heaven
protect, and guard me!

[_Music._--Ravensburg _would detain_ Agnes. _The_ prince _prevents him.
A_ free knight _appears on the terrace._ Agnes, _all animation, points
to the_ free knight--_also blesses_ Ravensburg. Ravensburg _implores
heaven in her favour._ Agnes _exit rapidly, and_ Ravensburg _is partly
persuaded, and partly forced off, by the_ prince Palatine.

_End of Act I._

ACT II.

SCENE I.--_An apartment in the_ baron's _chateau. A door in the back
scene, leading to a chamber._

_Enter_ Christopher, _hastily, through the stage door._

_Chris._ Not here either!--no where to be met with! Bless my soul? now I
am in the house, I might as well be out of it; for I can't find aunt or
cousin; and the fine company here seem all out of their senses. One
pushes me, and t'other pushes me, and till I'm sure I'm fine company
myself, it wont do for me to push again. Countess?--where are you, aunt
countess? Do come, and make me fine company! Oh lord! I'll try this door
(_door in the back scene_) and I should be half afraid she kept out of
the way because she was asham'd of me, only I know aunt has no
pride--not a bit of the gentlewoman about her.

[_Exit affectedly into the chamber._

_Enter countess_ Roland, _leading in_ Ulrica _through the stage door._

_Coun._ There! and now, whilst I return, and consult with the baron,
I'll take care nobody consults with you. [_Taking the key