Scene V.
Orsina, Marinelli.
MARINELLI.
Your ladyship has now heard, from himself, what you would not believe from my lips, have you not?
ORSINA (as if petrified).
Have I? Have, I indeed?
MARINELLI.
Most certainly.
ORSINA (deeply affected).
"I am engaged, I am not alone." Is this all the excuse I am worth? For whose dismissal would not these words serve? For every importunate, for every beggar. Could he not frame one little falsehood for me? Engaged! With what? Not alone! Who can be with him? Marinelli, dear Marinelli, be compassionate--tell me a falsehood on your own account. What can a falsehood cost you? What has he to do? Who is with him? Tell me, tell me. Say anything which first occurs to you, and I will go.
MARINELLI (aside).
On this condition, I may tell her part of the truth.
ORSINA.
Quick, Marinelli, and I will go. He said, "Another time, dear Countess!" Did he not? That he may keep his promise--that he may have no pretext to break it--quick, then, Marinelli,--tell me a falsehood, and I will go.
MARINELLI.
The Prince, dear Countess, is really not alone. There are persons with him, whom he cannot leave for a moment--persons, who have just escaped imminent danger. Count Appiani----
ORSINA.
Is with him! What a pity that I know this to be false! Quick, another! for Count Appiani, if you do not know it, has just been assassinated by robbers. I met the carriage, with his body in it, as I came from town. Or did I not? Was it a dream?
MARINELLI.
Alas, it was not a dream. But they who accompanied the Count were fortunately rescued, and are now in this palace; namely, a lady to whom he was betrothed, and whom, with her mother, he was conducting to Sabionetta, to celebrate his nuptials.
ORSINA.
They are with the Prince! A lady and her mother! Is the lady handsome?
MARINELLI.
The Prince is extremely sorry for her situation.
ORSINA.
That he would be, I hope, even if she were hideous--for her fate is dreadful. Poor girl! at the moment he was to become thine for ever, he was torn for ever from thee. Who is she? Do I know her? I have of late been so much out of town, that I am ignorant of every thing.
MARINELLI.
It is Emilia Galotti.
ORSINA.
What? Emilia Galotti? Oh, Marinelli, let me not mistake this lie for truth.
MARINELLI.
Why?
ORSINA.
Emilia Galotti?
MARINELLI.
Yes. Whom you can scarcely know.
ORSINA.
I do know her--though our acquaintance only began to-day. Emilia Galotti! Answer me seriously. Is Emilia Galotti the unfortunate lady whom the Prince is consoling?
MARINELLI (aside).
Can I have disclosed too much?
ORSINA.
And Count Appiani was her destined bridegroom--Count Appiani, who was shot to-day?
MARINELLI.
Exactly.
ORSINA (clapping her hands).
Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!
MARINELLI.
What now?
ORSINA.
I could kiss the devil that tempted him to do it.
MARINELLI.
Whom? Tempted? To do what?
ORSINA.
Yes, I could kiss--him--even wert thou that devil, Marinelli.
MARINELLI.
Countess!
ORSINA.
Come hither. Look at me--steadfastly--eye to eye.
MARINELLI.
Well?
ORSINA.
Know you not my thoughts?
MARINELLI.
How can I?
ORSINA.
Have you no concern in it?
MARINELLI.
In what?
ORSINA.
Swear. No, do not swear, for that might be another crime. But yes--swear. One sin more or less is of no consequence to a man who is already damned. Have you no concern in it?
MARINELLI.
You alarm me, Countess.
ORSINA.
Indeed! Now, Marinelli--has your good heart no suspicion?
MARINELLI.
Suspicion? Of what?
ORSINA.
'Tis well. Then I will entrust you with a secret--a secret, which will make each hair upon your head stand on end. But here, so near the door, some one might overhear us. Come here--(puts her finger to her mouth)--mark me, it is a secret--a profound secret. (Places her mouth to his ear, as if about to whisper, and shouts as loudly as she can) The Prince is a murderer!
MARINELLI.
Countess! Countess! Have you lost your senses?
ORSINA.
Senses? Ha! ha! ha! (laughing loudly). I have very seldom, if ever, been so satisfied with my understanding as I am at this moment. Depend upon it, Marinelli--but it is between ourselves--(in a low voice)--the Prince is a murderer--the murderer of Count Appiani. The Count was assassinated, not by robbers, but by the Prince's myrmidons, by the Prince himself.
MARINELLI.
How can so horrid a suspicion fall from your lips, or enter your imagination?
ORSINA.
How? Very naturally. This Emilia Galotti, who is now in the palace, and whose bridegroom--was thus trundled head over heels out of the world--this Emilia Galotti did the Prince to-day accost in the Church of the Dominicans, and held a lengthy conversation with her. That I know, for my spies not only saw it, but heard what he said. Now, sir, have I lost my senses? Methinks I connect the attendant circumstances very tolerably together. Or has all this happened, too, by accident? If so, Marinelli, you have as little idea of the wickedness of man as you have of prevision.
MARINELLI.
Countess, you would talk your life into danger----
ORSINA.
Were I to mention this to others? So much the better! So much the better! To-morrow I will repeat it aloud in the market-place--and, if any one contradict me--if any one contradict me, he was the murderer's accomplice. Farewell. (As she is going, she meets Odoardo entering hastily.)
Scene VI.
Odoardo, Orsina, Marinelli.
ODOARDO.
Pardon me, gracious lady----
ORSINA.
I can grant no pardon here, for I can take no offence. You must apply to this gentleman (pointing to Marinelli).
MARINELLI (aside).
The father! This completes the business.
ODOARDO.
Pardon a father, sir, who is in the greatest embarrassment, for entering unannounced.
ORSINA.
Father!--(turning round again)--Of Emilia, no doubt! Ha! Thou art welcome.
ODOARDO.
A servant came in haste to tell me that my family was in danger near here. I flew hither, he mentioned, and found that Count Appiani has been wounded--and carried back to town--and that my wife and daughter have found refuge in the palace. Where are they, sir, where are they?
MARINELLI.
Be calm, Colonel. Your wife and daughter have sustained no injury save from terror. They are both well. The Prince is with them. I will immediately announce you.
ODOARDO.
Why announce? merely announce me?
MARINELLI.
For reasons--on account of--on account of--you know, sir, that you are not upon the most friendly terms with the Prince. Gracious as may be his conduct towards your wife and daughter--they are ladies--will your unexpected appearance be welcome to him?
ODOARDO.
You are right, my lord, you are right.
MARINELLI.
But, Countess, may I not first have the honour of handing you to your carriage?
ORSINA.
By no means.
MARINELLI (taking her hand, not in the most gentle way).
Allow me to perform my duty.
ORSINA.
Softly!--I excuse you, Marquis. Why do such as you ever consider mere politeness a duty, and neglect as unimportant what is really an essential duty? To announce this worthy man immediately is your duty.
MARINELLI.
Have you forgotten what the Prince himself commanded?
ORSINA.
Let him come, and repeat his commands. I shall expect him.
MARINELLI (draws Odoardo aside).
I am obliged to leave you, Colonel, with a lady whose intellect--you understand me, I mention this that you may know in what way to treat her remarks, which are sometimes singular. It were better not to enter into conversation with her.
ODOARDO.
Very well. Only make haste, my lord.
(Exit Marinelli.)