Ig. O Heaven! (To ladies) Stay back! ’T is crime indeed!
Ladies. Villain!
Asef. Help me to Maximilian! O, I must see him! You called him gentle! When I tell him what Rafael is—the fairest soul man ever called a foe—
Ig. Softly, Aseffa! You can not see the emperor to-night.
Asef. I must! To-morrow ’t will be too late! He dies at sunrise!
Ig. Rafael! My friend! my brother!—
Asef. Quiet! quiet! Smile, Ignacio! Ha! ha! I ’ll pray it be not true, sir!
Ig. But you can see Count Charles. He ’s Maximilian’s very heart, and once you win him the Emperor is won. Go in! Go in! I ’ll bring you to the count! Be light of heart! Our Rafael is safe!
Asef. Ignacio, the Empress is all you said.
Prayers on their way to Heaven meeting her
Would think their journey ended. Can you be true?
Ig. (Touching his arm)
I bear the seal.