"That's all right—but you pay my money first," the cut-throat insisted. Rigoletto impatiently paid him.
"I'll throw him into the river, myself," Rigoletto said triumphantly.
"The tide is shallow here—go farther on—and be sure no one surprises you," Sparafucile advised. "Good night," he said shortly, and went inside the inn. Then Rigoletto stood in the dripping road looking gloatingly at the sack.
"I've got you at last," he chuckled, diabolically, "I have revenge for your treatment of my daughter. My dear daughter! The child of my heart!" At the very thought of what she had suffered the dwarf sobbed. "I'll put my foot upon you, you noble vermin," he cried, kicking the body in the sack. At that moment he heard a song—La Donna è Mobile—The voice! Was he going mad? He knew the voice. He had heard it only a few hours ago, in the inn—he had heard it daily at court—La Donna è Mobile! He looked toward the windows of the inn. La Donna è Mobile! As he looked he saw the Duke and Maddalena step from the window to the terrace that ran by the river bank. "La Donna è Mobile," the Duke sang gaily. With a frightful cry, Rigoletto dragged the sack open and the body of his murdered daughter rolled out upon the road. She moved ever so little.
"Father?" and she gasped out the truth, with a dying breath, while the dwarf shrieked and tore his hair.
"The curse, the curse! Monterone's curse!" he screamed, and went raving mad.
IL TROVATORE
CHARACTERS OF THE OPERA, WITH THE ORIGINAL CAST AS PRESENTED
AT THE FIRST PERFORMANCE
| Leonora | Penco |
| Azucena | Goggi |
| Inez | Quadri |
| Manrico | Baucardé |
| Count di Luna | Guicciardi |
| Ferrando | Balderi |
| Ruiz | Bazzoli |
| An old gipsy. | |
| Messenger, jailer, soldiers, nuns, gipsies, and attendants. |