Cath. Of my husband?
Aleft. Yes—ask me no more—you must hear the rest from Count Helmaar himself—he has sent for you.
Cath. (springs forward.) This instant let me go, let me hear—(she stops short at the sight of the waistcoat, which lies in her passage).—But what shall I hear?—there can be no good news for me—this speaks too plainly.
{Aleftson pulls her arm between his, and leads her away.}
Charles. Nay, master, take me, as you promised, along with you—I won’t be left behind—I’m wide awake now—I must have a sight of Count Helmaar in his own castle—why, they’ll make much of me in every cottage on my road home, when I can swear to ‘em I’ve seen Count Helmaar alive, in his own castle, face to face—God bless him, he’s the poor man’s friend.
{Exeunt.}
SCENE—The housekeeper’s room in Count HELMAAR’S Castle.
ULRICA and CHRISTIERN.
CHRISTIERN is drawing on his boots.—Mrs. ULRICA is sitting at a tea-table making coffee.
Mrs. Ulrica. Well, well; I’ll say no more: if you can’t stay to-night, you can’t—but I had laid it all out in my head so cleverly, that you should stay, and take a good night’s rest here, in the castle; then, in the morning, you’ll find yourself as fresh as a lark.