Osorio. Where was I?

Ferdinand. He of whom you tell the tale— 115

Osorio. Surveying all things with a quiet scorn
[[569]] Tamed himself down to living purposes,
The occupations and the semblances
Of ordinary men—and such he seem'd.
But that some over-ready agent—he—— [120]

Ferdinand. Ah! what of him, my lord?

Osorio. He proved a villain;
Betray'd the mystery to a brother villain;
And they between them hatch'd a damnéd plot
To hunt him down to infamy and death
To share the wealth of a most noble family, [125]
And stain the honour of an orphan lady
With barbarous mixture and unnatural union.
What did the Velez? I am proud of the name,
Since he dared do it.

[Osorio grasps his sword and turns off from Ferdinand, then, after a pause, returns.

Osorio. Our links burn dimly.

Ferdinand. A dark tale darkly finish'd! Nay, my lord! [130]
Tell what he did.

Osorio (fiercely). That which his wisdom prompted.
He made the traitor meet him in this cavern,
And here he kill'd the traitor.

Ferdinand. No!—the fool.
He had not wit enough to be a traitor.
Poor thick-eyed beetle! not to have foreseen 135
That he, who gull'd thee with a whimper'd lie
To murder his own brother, would not scruple
To murder thee, if e'er his guilt grew jealous
And he could steal upon thee in the dark!