BARON.
Without evasion, Sir, do you know the name of Baden? Was there ever a promise of marriage made by you to his daughter? Answer me plainly: or must I take a journey to inquire of the father?
COUNT.
No—he can tell you no more than, I dare say, you already know; and which I shall not contradict.
BARON.
Amazing insensibility! And can you hold your head erect while you acknowledge perfidy?
COUNT.
My dear baron,—if every man, who deserves to have a charge such as this brought against him, was not permitted to look up—it is a doubt whom we might not meet crawling on all fours. [he accidently taps the Baron’s shoulder.]
BARON.
[starts—recollects himself—then in a faultering voice]. Yet—nevertheless—the act is so atrocious—
COUNT.
But nothing new.
BARON.
[faintly]. Yes—I hope—I hope it is new.
COUNT.
What, did you never meet with such a thing before?
BARON.
[agitated]. If I have—I pronounced the man who so offended—a villain.
COUNT.
You are singularly scrupulous. I question if the man thought himself so.