given the spy private instructions
to have Mario really shot after all. Spoletta retires and Scarpia
approaches Tosca to claim his reward. But she stops him, asking for a
safe conduct for herself and her lover. While Scarpia is writing it
Tosca seizes a knife from the table while leaning against it and hides
the weapon behind her back. Scarpia {468} seals the passport, then
opening his arms he says: "Now Tosca, mine at last." But he staggers
back with an awful scream; Tosca has suddenly plunged the knife deep
into his breast. Before he can call for help, death overtakes him, and
Tosca after having taken the passport from the clenched fist of the
dead man turns to fly.

The third act takes place on the platform of the castle Sant' Angelo.

The gaoler informs Mario Cavaradossi that he may ask for a last favour
having only one hour to live and the captive begs to be allowed to send
a last letter of farewell to his fiancee. The gaoler assents, and
Mario sits down to write, but soon the sweet recollections of the past
overcome him. Tosca finds him in bitter tears, which soon give way to
joy, when she shows him her passport, granting a free pass to Tosca and
to the Chevalier who will accompany her.

When she tells him of the deadly deed she has done to procure it, he
kisses the hands that were stained with blood for his sake. Then she
informs him of the farce, which is to be acted, and begs him to fall
quite naturally after the first shot, and to remain motionless until
she shall call him. After a while the gaoler reminds them that the
hour is over. The soldiers march up and Tosca places herself to the
left of the guard's room, in order to face her lover. The latter
refuses to have his eyes bandaged, and bravely stands erect before the
soldiers. The officer lowers his sword, a report {469} follows and
Tosca seeing her lover fall sends him a kiss. When one of the
sergeants is about to give the "coup de grace" to the fallen man
Spoletta prevents him, and covers Mario with a cloak. Tosca remains
quiet until the last soldier has descended the steps of the staircase,
then she runs to her lover, calling to him, to rise. As he does not
move, she bends down to him and tears the cloak off, but with a
terrible cry she staggers back. Her lover is dead! She bewails him in
the wildest grief, when suddenly she hears the voice of Sciarrone, and
knows that Scarpia's murder has been discovered. A crowd rushes up the
stai