Venoni rushes in by a side door.
Venoni. Who shrieks for help—for mercy! I—I will give them! (Veronica and nuns utter a cry of surprise)
Ve. Ah! a stranger?
Jose. (bursting from the nuns with a violent effort) Tis he! tis he himself! save me, Venoni! oh! save me, save me! (she rushes to throw herself into his arms, and sinks fainting at his feet.)
Ve. Venoni, betrayed, undone! Lucia! (she whispers Lucia.)
Venoni. She knows me! look up, look up, unfortunate! I will protect you! I will preserve you, and—Josepha! tis Josepha! speak to me, Josepha! oh! speak to your Venoni!
Ve. But one moment is still ours— (to Lucia) fly! hasten! (Lucia goes off by the door through which Venoni enters.)
Venoni. The monsters! the barbarians! oh! my beloved, how have the wretches made you suffer.
Jose. Suffer! oh say but that you love me still, all, all will be forgotten.
Venoni. Do I love thee? oh, heaven! thou, my soul! my life! best half of my existence! but come, let us quit this hated place—let us away, and— (to Veronica) nay, lady, shrink not at my approach: how you may answer to the viceroy, be that your care; but dread no reproaches from me! I shall respect that sacred habit, though you have felt for it so little reverence; I shall still remember your sex, though you seem yourself to have forgotten it. Give me the means to quit the convent—furnish me with the portal key—