d baseness! I plant a dagger
In the fond breast that cherishes the wound;
Nor will she feel the pain until withdrawn,
And happiness--nay, life--will issue with it.
How inconsistent, selfish, treacherous!
Heav'n pardon me--how can I pardon ask
For that I never can forgive myself! [_Exit Gaspar._

_Act IV. Scene I._

_Street before Anselmo's lodgings._

_Enter Antonio._

_Ant._ At last I have his secret, and one of moment too. A monk, and yet
a cavalier! A friar's gown and a gala suit! vowing to heaven and vowing
to the ladies! Abjuring the world, and roaming through it with a
vengeance! Telling his beads, and telling me lies! But I am not so
easily to be deceived. I thought very often that there was a similarity
of voice between his and my confessor's, but when I saw the friar's
gown, and he accused me of having two wives, it all flashed upon me at
once. A pretty fool has he made of me! No wonder that he knew my
rogueries when I confessed them to him. What's the having two wives to
this? Mine is a paltry secret of a poor lacquey, but his is one which
will obtain a price, and it is well to be first in the market. Whom
shall I sell it to? let me see--Don Felix----?

_Enter Beppa._

_Bep._ What of Don Felix, husband? Do you wish to serve him?

_Ant._ Yes, if he'll pay me well.

_Bep._ I presume Don Gaspar has not paid you: then must you help
yourself.

_Ant._ Why so I do, whenever I can. But he takes care of that.

_Bep._ He might have done, but hardly will do so now.

_Ant._ Why not?

_Bep._ Because he's dead.

_Ant._ Dead! Are you sure of that?

_Bep._ Quite sure, for I myself beheld the contest. Such fierce exchange
of hate I ne'er imagined, or that you men were such incarnate devils.

_Ant._ Pray tell me where this happened.

_Bep._ 'Twas in the garden near our house, under the chestnut trees,
deep in the shade. The full moon could not pierce the closely woven
foliage. All her beams were caught on the topmost boughs which waved in
silver. A lovely night to stain with murder! Oh me! I see them now.

_Ant._ Proceed, good Beppa, I'm eager to know all.

_Bep._ Their forms were not distinct, yet could we perceive their
gleaming swords darting like fiery serpents; 'twas horrible. At last one
fell; it proved to be Don Gaspar.

_Ant._ Indeed! you're sure there's no mistake?

_Bep._ I saw the body borne away. My mistress weeps and tears her hair,
nor deems that he was false. I must to the church,