“Sire, each heart has its own secret.”
“And I, have not I mine? Ah, Elvira, from the moment I first saw thee I have loved thee. I love thee for thyself, as I would have thee, lady, e’en love me. But—but if a crown will earn me smiles from thee, I offer you the half of that I wear.”
“With thy crown thy love is too high for me, without it, ’tis too low.”
“Thou shalt fall.”
“A king—never forget you are a king!”
“I forget I am a king when I am at your feet.”
He ran towards her, as her eyes flashed defiance upon him; but the next moment he drew back, for she had snatched a jewelled dagger from his girdle.
“Stand back!”
“You see I do stand back, fair lady. But there are more hands here than mine to pluck the dagger from your grasp.”
Suddenly he perceived a great joy flush her fair cheeks. At the same instant he heard a footstep behind him, and turning round, he saw a man, a handsome, daring-looking man, whom he was sure, seeing the lady’s joy, was none other than Ernani, looking on him defiantly, with hate and anger! Ernani, who had entered the castle by a secret door—who was there to bear away the lady—who had come to save her from yet further misery.