Lord Rudolph. I entered as the door was closing on you:
His eye was fixed, yet seemed to follow you,—
With such a look of hate, and scorn and triumph,
As if he had you in the toils already, 25
And were then choosing where to stab you first.
But hush! draw back!
Casimir. This nook is at the furthest
From any beaten track.
Lord Rudolph. There! mark them!
[Points to where Laska and Pestalutz cross the Stage.
Casimir. Laska!
Lord Rudolph. One of the two I recognized this morning;
His name is Pestalutz: a trusty ruffian 30
Whose face is prologue still to some dark murder.
Beware no stratagem, no trick of message,
Dispart you from your servants.
Casimir (aside). I deserve it.
The comrade of that ruffian is my servant:
The one I trusted most and most preferred. [35]
But we must part. What makes the king so late?
It was his wont to be an early stirrer.
Lord Rudolph. And his main policy.
To enthral the sluggard nature in ourselves
Is, in good truth, the better half of the secret
To enthral the world: for the will governs all. [40]
See, the sky lowers! the cross-winds waywardly
Chase the fantastic masses of the clouds
With a wild mockery of the coming hunt!
Casimir. Mark yonder mass! I make it wear the shape
Of a huge ram that butts with head depressed. [45]
