Scene Six
The same persons, Cardenos
Zoraya. (Frightened) Cardenos!
She goes to the left.
Enrique. Cardenos here!—at this hour!
Cardenos. (Entering) I am not more surprised to see you myself, Don Enrique, than to find you in such company.
Enrique. (Who places himself quickly between Cardenos and the door, which he fastens) Is that advice, or a threat?
Cardenos. (Coldly) Neither one nor the other!—I am here by order of the Holy-Office to arrest this woman (movement by Enrique to rejoin and protect Zoraya) who practises sorcery.
Zoraya. That is false!
Enrique. Foolishness!
Cardenos. You seem to have forgotten the punishment in store for a crime like yours.
Enrique. You are presumptuous!
Cardenos. (Continuing coldly) His Eminence, knowing that this woman was seen to enter this house without coming out, entrusted me with the task of watching at this door to arrest her without noise when she came out and at the same time unknown to you.
Enrique. His Eminence had foreseen that I would not let you do it!
Cardenos. He has only foreseen your submission and confession for the care which he has taken—out of regard for your name, your rank, and your young wife, his pupil—to separate your case from that of your accomplice, and inflict upon you only a penance which will reconcile you with the Church!
Zoraya. (Quickly) Ah! if that is so, good—I will go with you!
Enrique. (Violently obstructing her passage) Are you foolish? (To Cardenos.) Go tell Ximénès that he has no right to my confession unless he provides the same indulgence for her whom he calls my accomplice.
Cardenos. You shall say it to him yourself, Señor Enrique. (To Zoraya) Come, you!—Follow me!
Enrique. (Stopping Zoraya) By God! This is insolence!
Zoraya. Enrique!
Enrique. Silence! (To Cardenos) And you—get out of here!
Cardenos. Be careful that you do not render indulgence for yourself impossible!
Enrique. That is my own affair!
Cardenos. And you would lose it for nothing!
Zoraya. He has a reason!—Let me go!
Enrique. (Sharply to Cardenos) Are you not going?
Cardenos. I beg of you, my lord, to listen to the prayer of a man as old as your father, and who has known you since you were a child.
Enrique. During that time you should have learned a better profession than the one you are now engaged in.
Cardenos. He would say the same to you.
Enrique. He can blaspheme me if I have the infamy to deliver up the woman whom I love.—And I would deserve the insults of all the scullions of the city!
Zoraya. No! No! (To Cardenos) Do not listen to him. Take me away.
Cardenos places his hand on her.
Enrique. (Stepping between them) Scoundrel! Do not touch this woman!
Cardenos. Do you refuse to let her go?
Enrique. I dare to say yes.
Cardenos. If there is a disturbance and a scandal it will be only because you have wanted it!
He turns to go out. Enrique steps forward between him and the door, putting his hand on his shoulder.
Enrique. Where are you going?
Cardenos. Where I please.
Enrique. To bring your men?
Cardenos. You compel me to do so.
Enrique. You shall not go!—You shall not call them!
Zoraya. Ah! My God!
Cardenos. (Withdrawing to the center of the patio) Then, there are our special valets who shall help me!
Enrique. (The same) You venturesome ruffian!
Cardenos. Let me go!
Enrique. No!
Cardenos. I shall call my men!
Enrique. I defy you to do so!
Cardenos. Help!
Enrique. (Leaping upon him) Silence!
Cardenos. (Drawing his dagger) Help!
Enrique. (Snatching it from him. He seizes Cardenos by the wrists and throws him to the ground) Silence! Silence!
Cardenos. Help!
Enrique. (Seizing his throat) You will be silent, demon!
Cardenos, suffocated, beats the air with his hands, then falls strangled at the right of the steps.
Zoraya. (Leaping towards him) Ah! unfortunate man! What have you done?
Enrique. (Infuriated, stoops over Cardenos) What?—What have I done to him?
Zoraya. (Raising his head) He is dead!
Enrique. (Frightened) No!
Zoraya. See! He is dead, I tell you! See! He is dead! He is dead!
She lets Cardenos’ arms fall back.
Enrique. Is it possible!
Zoraya. (Turning her eyes to the foot of the stage) Be quiet!
They see a lantern passing from one window to another, followed by the sound of the opening of the middle window. Frightened, Zoraya and Enrique seek refuge on the little stairway, hiding behind a column and clumps of flowers.
Ramiro. (Half-clad at the window, leaning in) Hello! Some one called!—Who is there? (They hear another window opened opposite the first one) Is that you, Ginès?
Ginès. (Invisible) Yes, master!
Ramiro. Did you hear that disturbance—those shouts?
Ginès. Yes!—They were calls for aid!
Ramiro. Was it in this house?
Ginès. More likely in the street—those belated drunkards!
Ramiro. Dress yourself, awaken Padillo.—We shall see!
He disappears, fastening the window.
Zoraya. (Frightened, rising suddenly, in a low voice) They have gone!
Enrique. Except you, no one has seen me and none can accuse me!
Zoraya. That is folly!—A man comes to arrest me—who should kill him but you?
Enrique. It is true!—Ah! God, God! Assassin!—Me! me!
Zoraya. Do not become excited or lament. What is done is done. We shall not await them, shall we?
Enrique. Go then!
Zoraya. Alone?
Enrique. Go, Zoraya.
Zoraya. Without you—No!
Enrique. Merciful Heaven! What course shall we take?
Zoraya. Flight!
Enrique. And where shall we fly to?
Zoraya. Where I told you!
Enrique. It is dishonorable and my life will be lost!
Zoraya. Remain! Then you will lose it more quickly!—Come! Come on!—Come!—Come! (She runs to the street door and opens it. They hear sounds of voices outside and the scraping of guitars. She quickly fastens the door.) The musicians!
Enrique. In the street?
Zoraya. (Despairingly) If they have come to give the morning serenade, it is for us.
They listen anxiously. The musicians draw near, conversing and laughing, while thumbing their strings.
A Musician. Shall we serenade Don Enrique Palacios?
Zoraya makes a movement of fright.
Another. Simpleton!—He cares much for your music at this moment!
Laughter.
Another. Besides, they did not pay us for serenading him!
Approbations. Enrique anxiously watches the house from the foot.
The Other. (Farther away) Come, then! Laggards!—Not there, but in the other street.
All. Yes! Coming, coming!
They go away making the same sounds with which they came. Enrique goes toward the foot listening for the valets’ return.
Zoraya. (Opening the door cautiously and looking into the street) They are going farther away.—They have gone round the corner of the house. (Shortly afterward they hear the distant serenade, a voice singing:)
Oh! Love is the conqueror Whose flames devour me! Open thy heart, Thy lover implores thee!
(Zoraya opens the door and looks relieved) The street is clear. Come quickly! (Seeing Enrique, who is searching for something on the floor) Good God! what are you searching for?
Enrique. His dagger, which he dropped.
He picks it up and runs to the door.
Zoraya. (Taking him in her arms) Ah! yes, yes!—Should they arrest us, you will kill me!
Enrique. Yes, and myself afterward!
Zoraya. (Seeing a light at the door of the ground floor, at the foot) Their voices! Quickly, come quickly!
She and Enrique hurry out. At the same time the door opens and Ramiro quickly enters with two valets, one of whom carries a lantern. Ramiro sees the body of Cardenos, snatches the lantern from the valets hands and looks at the dead mans face.
All the Three. Cardenos!
One of the valets, seeing the street door open, runs to it and looks into the street. The other joins him and they spring out, running away and shouting: “Stop those assassins! Stop them! Arrest them!” During this part of the scene, which is very rapid, the serenade continues.
(Curtain)