Enrique. Be considerate, Ramiro. They have the right to speak in their own defence. (He is assisted in stepping upon a piece of rock at the right of the scene. He seats himself on a boulder after giving his cross-bow to Arias.) What has caused this disturbance?
Ramiro. Your lordship has not forgotten a young Moorish armourer employed on his estate, named Kalem?
Enrique. Kalem? Yes! a clever artisan and also a handsome lad, who worked for me.
Ramiro. Unfortunately one of those black, obstinate rebels, who will not admit since the conquest of Granada by our glorious sire (he uncovers his head and bows) that the dominion of the Moors and the cult of their great devil Mohammed have ended in Spain.
Enrique. Yes. Whenever I urged Kalem to become converted he always refused.
Ramiro. He went from bad to worse—defying a royal edict, which forbids all intimacy between an unconverted Moor and a Christian, he betrayed the daughter of a neighbor, a good Catholic. For that offence the two culprits, in conformance with the law, have been punished during your lordship’s absence: the girl thrown into solitude for life in the convent of Mercy!—and Kalem, stoned to death!
Enrique. Ah! the poor boy!
Ramiro. Yesterday at sunset, up there at the foot of an elm!—After which I left the body fastened to the tree-trunk, according to custom, to serve as a warning to these accursed heathen. But, no! They are enraged! The body has disappeared!
Enrique. When was it removed?
Ramiro. Last night.