KING.
If the court please—
WEDGEWOOD (aside.)
Bravo! His Majesty is becoming a principal witness! (In a subdued tone of voice.)
Silence in the court!—The king speaks!
KING (rapidly.) I see it all! The case is clear. Karl had my permission to espouse Sophia. She refused him. Laniska loved her. Karl hated him, and planned her destruction; visited her in prison; tried to force her to fly the country with him; she refused, and he would have slain her, had not Mr. Wedgewood, the Advocate, and Harold—who has just told me all—struck him to the ground. Karl plotted this mischief—Karl bought the paint—Karl wrote the word—and Karl shall DIE!
KARL (draws his dagger.) But not unavenged! (He darts toward SOPHIA, and makes an attempt to stab her. SOPHIA shrieks, and runs to LANISKA. All the CHARACTERS rise, greatly excited, and watch the scene with deep interest. The GUARDS present their pikes to the breast of KARL, who is seized by HAROLD and CORPORAL—in the brief struggle with whom, KARL's shirt-sleeve is torn open, and the felon's brand is discovered on his arm. To this ALBERT points in triumph—Tableau.—The whole action is instantaneous.)
HAROLD (with great eagerness.)
Behold, my liege, the felon's brand! (Presto!—all start with astonishment.)
CHORUS.
Now, who's the traitor?
[The JURYMEN rise.
QUITETTE and CHORUS.
KARL.
The javelin from an unseen hand
Was sent that laid me low!—
Behold exposed the felon's brand
Unto my mortal foe!
CHORUS.
Who's now the traitor? etc.