Long. (to Sanguine) Sanguine, ascend the stair, and force that wretched woman to my presence.
Bert. Hold, hold, my lord! recal those threatning words. O God! what damning crime is in your thoughts? pause—yet for a moment, pause, ere you barter to the fiend your soul for ages. Omnipotence hath interposed with miracles and still preserved you from the guilt you sought, your conscience yet is undefiled with blood.
Long. Away! my purpose is resolved.
Bert. Will you then reject the mercy Heaven extends? (kneels and catching his cloak.) Hear me, my lord; nay, for your own eternal being, hear me; as you now deal with this afflicted innocent, even so, hereafter, shall the God of judgment deal with you.
Long. I brave the peril, (call aloud) hasten, Sanguine, produce my victim.
Bert. (Desperately.) Cover me mountains! hide me from the sun! (He casts himself upon the ground.)
Sanguine returns precipitately from above.
Sang. My lord, one fatal moment has undone your scheme, the female has escaped.
Long. Villain! escaped.
Bert. (raising himself in frantic joy.) Ha!