Odoardo.
ODOARDO (after a pause, during which his eyes follow the Prince).
Why not? Most willingly. Ha! ha! ha! (Looks wildly around.) Who laughed? By Heaven I believe it was myself. 'Tis well. I will be merry. The game is near an end. Thus must it be, or thus. But--(pauses)--how if she were in league with him? How if this were the usual deception? How if she were not worthy of what I am about to do for her? (Pauses again.) And what am I about to do for her? Have I a heart to name it even to myself? A thought comes to me--a thought which can be but a thought. Horrible!--I will go. I will not wait until she comes. (Raises his eyes towards Heaven.) If she be innocent, let Him who plunged her into this abyss, extricate her from it. He needs not my hand. I will away. (As he is going he espies Emilia.) Ha! 'Tis too late. My hand is required--He requires it.
Scene VII.
Emilia, Odoardo.
Enter Emilia.
EMILIA.
How! Ton here, my father? And you alone--without the Count--without my mother? So uneasy, too, my father?
ODOARDO.
And you so much at ease, my daughter?