The Baron suddenly stands before them in the centre: Eugenia shrieks and Bertrand stands aghast and trembles.
Bert. Undone forever?
Long. (furiously to Sanguine) Guard well the door—let not a creature enter or depart.
Sanguine advances by his direction. Eugenia flies by the stairs to the upper chamber. Longueville, after a short pause of indecisive passion, draws a poniard and seizes upon Bertrand.
Long. Wretch!
Bert. Strike! yes, deep in this guilty bosom, strike at once, and rid me of despair.
Long. Thou double traitor! thy perjuries now meet their just reward. Tremble at impending death.
Bert. No; I have not feared to live in vice, and will not shrink at least to die for virtue.
Long. (throwing him off.) No; I will not take the wretched forfeit: thou’rt spared from hate, not pity; I gave thee back thy life, but I will study punishments, to make the boon a curse unutterable.
Bert. Tyrant, I defy thy vengeance to increase my torments; the innocent, I pledged myself to save, already stands devoted to destruction, and the measure of my anguish and despair is full.