Julian [to Severo]—Silence! Bad friend! bad son! [Holding him at his feet.]
Ernest—Father!
Julian—Disloyal! Treacherous!
Ernest—No, father.
Julian—Thus do I brand you as a traitor on the cheek—now with my hand, soon with my sword! [With a supreme effort he raises himself and strikes Ernest on the face.]
Ernest [rises to his feet with a terrible cry and retreats, covering his face with his hands]—Ah!
Severo—Justice! [Stretching out his hand toward Ernest.]
Teodora—My God! [Hides her face with her hands and falls into a chair.]
Mercedes [to Ernest, exculpating Julian]—It was delirium!
[These four exclamations in rapid succession. A moment of stupor; Julian still standing and regarding Ernest, Mercedes and Severo trying to calm him.]