_Ve._ Alas, alas! to protect you is beyond my power! you will be plunged
once more alive into the grave-- will be deprived of every comfort--

_Jose._ No, lady, no! even in the depth of your subterraneous dungeon,
one comfort still is mine, and never will forsake me: tis the
consciousness that my sufferings are transitory, but that my reward
will be eternal; tis the consciousness of an hereafter! tis this which
supports me during all my daily sorrows; tis this which irradiates all
my nightly dreams. Then this poor wretched globe with all its crimes
and all its follies rolls away from before me: then all seems fair,
and pure, and glorious: cherubs shed the roseate lustre of their smiles
upon my stony couch, and guardian saints encourage me to suffer with
patience, to hope, and to adore!-- such are my dreams: now, lady, paint
if you dare, the visions which you behold in your own.

_Ve._ She tortures my heart; her reproaches fire my brain-- I can endure
them no longer-- remove her! away!

_Jose._ (_kneeling_) Oh! drive me not from you! pity me! protect me!
save me!--

_Ve._ I cannot! I dare not! take her from my sight, and-- and for ever!

_Jose._ (_rising_) For ever? no, cruel woman; do not hope it! listen to
these sighs; look upon these tears! in your gayest happiest moments,
such sighs shall scare away delight; when you lift to your lips the cup
of pleasure, you shall find the draught embittered by such tears; and
when that hour arrives which you dread so justly, a form like mine shall
stand beside your pillow and a voice like mine shall shriek in your
ear-- "Welcome, murderess! welcome, to that grave, to which you
sent me!"

_Ve._ Insupportable! away with her! she kills me!

_Jose._ Oh! let me stay yet a few moments more! let me gaze but a little
longer on the lovely, friendly, blessed light! let me still hear a human
voice, even though it threaten me; let me still look upon a human face,
even though it be the face of an enemy; (_the nuns endeavour to force
her away_) mercy! mercy! help me-- aid me!

_Venoni_ rushes in by a side door.

_Venoni._ Who shrieks for help-- for mercy! I-- I will give them!

(_Veronica and nuns utter a cry of surprise_)

_Ve._ Ah! a stranger?

_Jose._ (_bursting from the nuns with a violent effort_) Tis he! tis he
himself! save me, Venoni! oh! save me, save me! (_she rushes to throw
herself into his arms, and sinks fainting at his feet._)

_Ve._ Venoni, betrayed, undone!