At this moment another death-procession passes.... A Miserere is chanted....
A dawn of horror breaks over Violante's face ... she shrinks inward from the passing procession, feeling the huge horror of the Pestilence.
Olivia gathers Florio's unresisting head to her bosom....
The sound of the Miserere dies off....
Into this tableau breaks Dioneo. Slowly he parts the arras.]
Dioneo [grimacing, and seeing, at first, only Lizzia at the altar.]
Bestir yourself, old woman—
Where is your master, Florio,
And Lady Violante Ugolini?...
This is no time for lovers' dallying....
Tell them that Seignior Boccaccio
Sends word through me that we must wait no longer.
And, furthermore, he bids me say—that
[Violante falls in a faint across his feet.
Dioneo sees all. Shrinking back.]
Merciful God!...