SCENE I.
An antique Apartment in the Castle.
Enter Don Cæsar, with Precaution.
Don Cæsar. Thus far I've got into the castle unperceived—I'm certain Sanguino means the old gentleman a mischief, which nature bids me endeavour to prevent. I saw the rascal slip in at the postern below; but where can he have got to! [A sliding Panel opens in the Wainscot, and Sanguino comes out.] Yes, yonder he issues, like a rat or a spider.—How now, Sanguino!
Sang. Captain Ramirez!
Don Cæsar. On enterprize without my knowledge! What's your business here?
Sang. Revenge! Look—[Shows a Stilletto.] if I meet Don Scipio—
Don Cæsar. A stilletto! I command you to quit your purpose.
Sang. What, no satisfaction for my wound last night, and lose my booty too!
Don Cæsar. Your wound was chance—Put up—We shall have noble booty here, and that's our business—But you seem to know your ground here, Sanguino?
Sang. I was formerly master of the horse to Count D'Olivi, the last resident here, so am well acquainted with the galleries, lobbies, windings, turnings, and every secret lurking place in the castle.
Don Cæsar. I missed Spado at the muster this morning—did he quit the cave with you?
Spado. [Without.] As sure as I'm alive, it's fact, sir.—
Don Cæsar. Isn't that Spado's voice?
Sang. Impossible!
Don Cæsar. Hush!
[They retire.
Enter Don Scipio and Spado.
Don Scipio. Yes, I've heard of such places; but you say you have been in the cave where these ruffian banditti live?
Spado. Most certainly, sir: for, after having robbed me of five hundred doubloons, the wicked rogues barbarously stripped, and tied me neck and heels, threw me across a mule, like a sack of corn, and led me blindfold to their cursed cavern.
Don Scipio. Ah, poor fellow!
Spado. There, sir, in this sculking hole the villains live in all manner of debauchery, and dart out upon the innocent traveller, like beasts of prey.
Don Scipio. Oh, the tigers! just so they fastened upon me last night, but your sham Fernando, and I, made them run like hares; I gave him my purse for his trouble.
Spado. And he took it! what a mean fellow!—you ought not to have ventured out unarmed—I always take a blunderbuss when I go upon the road—the rascal banditti are most infernal cowards.
Don Scipio. What a glorious thing to deliver these reprobates into the hands of justice!
Spado. Ah, sir, 'twould be a blessed affair—Oh, I'd hang them up like mad dogs!
Don Scipio. Well, you say you know the cave?
Spado. Yes, yes, I slipped the handkerchief from my eyes and took a peep, made particular observations of the spot; so get a strong guard, and I'll lead you to the very trap-door of their den.
Don Scipio. 'Egad, then we'll surprise them, and you'll have the prayers of the whole country, my honest friend.
Spado. Heaven knows, sir, I have no motives for this discovery but the public good, so I expect the country will order me a hundred pistoles, as a reward for my honesty.
Don Cæsar. Here's a pretty dog!
[Apart.
Sang. Ay, ay, he ha'n't long to live.
[Apart.
Don Scipio. An hundred pistoles!
Spado. Sir, have an eye upon their captain, as they call him, he's the most abandoned, impudent profligate—[Suddenly turning sees Cæsar, who shows a Pistol.] Captain did I say? [Terrified.] Oh, no; the captain's a very worthy good-natured fellow—I meant a scoundrel, who thinks he ought to be captain, one Sanguino, the most daring, wicked, and bloody villain that—[Turning the other may, perceives Sanguino with a Pistol.] but indeed, I found Sanguino an honest, good-natured fellow too—
[With increased terror.
Don Scipio. Hey, a bloody, wicked, honest, good-natured fellow! what is all this?
Spado. Yes; then, sir, I thought I saw these two gentlemen, and at that instant, I thought they looked so terrible, that with the fright I awoke.
Don Scipio. Awoke! what the devil then, is all this but a dream you have been telling me?
Spado. Ay, sir, and the most frightful dream I ever had in my life. I'm at this instant frightened out of my wits.
Don Scipio. You do look frightened indeed—poor man! I thought this cave was—
Spado. Don't mention cave, or I faint—heigho!
Enter Vasquez.
Vas. Dame Isabel wants to speak with you, sir.
Don Scipio. I'll wait on her.
Spado. Yes, I'll wait on her.
[Going hastily.
Don Scipio. You! she don't want you.
Spado. Dear sir, she can't do without me at this time. [Exit Scipio.] I come.
[Going.
Don Cæsar. No, you stay.—
[Pulls him back.
Spado. Ah, my dear captain. [Affecting surprise and joy.] What, and my little Sanguino too! Who could have thought of your finding me out here?
Don Cæsar. Yes, you are found out.
[Significantly.
Spado. Such discoveries as I have made in the castle!—
Don Cæsar. You're to make discoveries in the forest too.
Sang. Our cave!
Spado. Oh, you overheard that! Didn't I hum the old fellow finely? Ha! ha! ha!
Sang. And for your reward, traitor, take this to your heart.
[Offers to stab him.
Don Cæsar. Hold, Sanguino.
Spado. Nay, my dear Sanguino, stay! What the devil—So here I can't run a jest upon a silly old man, but I must be run through with a stilletto!
Don Cæsar. Come, Spado, confess what really brought you here.
Spado. Business, my dear sir, business; all in our own way too, for I designed to let every man of you into the castle this very night, when all the family are in bed, and plunder's the word—Oh, such a delicious booty! pyramids of plate, bags of gold, and little chests of diamonds!
Sang. Indeed!
Spado. Sanguino, look at the closet.
Sang. Well!
Spado. A glorious prize!
Sang. Indeed!
Spado. Six chests of massy plate! Look, only look into the closet; wait here a moment, and I'll fetch a master key that shall open every one of them.
Don Cæsar. Hey! Let's see those chests.
Sang. Massy plate! Quick, quick, the master key.
Spado. I'll fetch it.
Sang. Do but make haste, Spado.
Spado. I will, my dear boy.
[Exeunt Sanguino and Don Cæsar.
My good—honest—Oh, you two thieves!
[Aside.
Enter Don Scipio.
Don Scipio. Now, Spado, I—hey, where is my little dreamer? but why is this door open? this closet contains many valuables—Why will they leave it open? Let's see—
[Goes into the Closet.
Enter Spado with a Portmanteau.
Spado. [As entering.] I have no key—However, I have stolen Don Fernando's portmanteau as a peace-offering for these two rascals! Are you there? What a pity the coming of my fellow-rogues! I should have had the whole castle to myself—Oh, what a charming seat of work for a man of my industry—[Speaking at Closet Door.] You find the chests there—you may convey them out at night, and as for cutting Don Scipio's throat—that I leave to—
Enter Don Scipio.
Don Scipio. Cut my throat!—What, are you at your dreams again?
Spado. [Aside.] Oh, zounds!—Yes, sir, as I was telling you.
Don Scipio. Of a little fellow you have the worst dreams I ever heard.
Spado. Shocking, sir—then I thought—
Don Scipio. Hold, hold, let me hear no more of your curst dreams.
Spado. I've got off, thanks to his credulity.
[Aside.
Don Scipio. What portmanteau's that?
Spado. 'Sdeath, I'm on again!
[Aside.
Don Scipio. Fernando's, I think.
Spado. [Affecting surprise.] What, my master's?—'egad so it is—But I wonder who could have brought it here.—Ay, ay, my fellow servant Pedrillo is now too grand to mind his business;—and my master, I find, though he has taken the habit, scorns the office of a servant—So I must look after the things myself.
Don Scipio. Ay, ay, take care of them.
Spado. Yes, sir, I'll take care of them!
Don Scipio. Ha! ha! ha! what a strange whimsical fellow this master of yours! with his plots and disguises.—Think to impose upon me too.—But I think I'm far from a fool.
Spado. [Looking archly at him.] That's more than I am.
Don Scipio. So he pretends not to know you, though he has sent you here as a spy, to see what you can pick up?
Spado. Yes, sir, I came here to see what I can pick up.
[Takes up the Portmanteau.
Don Scipio. What an honest servant!—he has an eye to every thing!
[Exit Don Scipio.
Spado. But before I turn honest, I must get somewhat to keep me so.