Tales of the Wonder Club Volume III Part 19

[_Exeunt two pages, who re-enter, dragging Inez in, who utters a piercing scream. She is dressed in a white dressing gown, her hair dishevelled, and grasping a crucifix. Father Miguel and Gipsy Queen appear at the open door cautiously. Behind lurk Don Pascual and Gipsies._

INEZ. "Oh, Holy Virgin! Save me; save me yet.

Thou wilt not thus abandon me."

D. DIE. (_Seizing her by the hair, and dragging her towards the Chapel._) So jade, Since thou hast deemed fit to flout me thus Before my guests, and spurn'st my tenderness, Learn how obedience can be enforced.

Come priest. Be ready.

A GUEST. Nay, but this is rape!

I cannot stay and see injustice done.

I repent me that I was invited.

ANOTHER GUEST. True, and so do I. This is no marriage, But filthy l.u.s.t and mere abuse of power.

D. DIE. (_To Guards._) Help! h.e.l.l and Furies! or I'll have her drugged.

GUESTS ALL. Shame! Shame! Down with Don Diego.

Seize the tyrant.

D. DIE. What! Flouted by my very guests. What next?

GUESTS ALL. Virtue to the rescue! Save the maiden!

_Enter_ GIPSY QUEEN _hurriedly, and stands fixing_ DON DIEGO _with her eye, who recoils_.

GIP. Q. Hold! I forbid the banns.

INEZ. Thanks, Holy Virgin, That hast heard my prayer, and sent an angel Down from your high Heaven in hour of need.

What glorious halo do I see around That sainted vision!

[_Inez falls fainting into the arms of Don Silvio._

D. DIE. Nay, this is madness.

GIP. Q. Hear me, swarthy hag. This castle is mine, And not for such as thee. Begone, I say, Or I will have thee hanged, ere breaks the dawn, From the loftiest turret of this pile.

GIP. Q. Villain, I fear no threats.

Look on this bond.

D. DIE. What folly's this? Say, who let these men in?

F'TH. M. (_Advancing._) I, Don Miguel, whom you basely thought To use as instrument in your foul plot, Twenty-two years ago, when you did plan The mockery of a marriage to induce This trusting gipsy to accede to what Your own dark soul did l.u.s.t for; thinking that 'Twere easy work to dupe the innocent.

So, writing to a worthless boon companion, Already in your debt, you promised him To cancel all his debt, and further add Another sum in recompense, were he To condescend to sink himself so low As to enact the part of priest in this False marriage. But that letter never reached Its destination. Djabel, gipsy king, This woman's father, once suspecting guile, As well he might, did send his spies abroad, And so this letter, fell into my hands.

I quick conceived the plan to pen reply, As coming from the tool you sought to use, In which 'twas stated that he lay in bed, Ill of a fever, and so could not come, And therefore he would send a subst.i.tute To act for him. That subst.i.tute was I.

I, Father Miguel, with dissembling mien, By you too fully trusted, had access Unto your presence, as you fondly thought, To help you in your plot of the feigned match.

But know, base villain, you alone were duped, Your marriage was a real one, and holds good.

D. DIE. This is some false concocted tale, got up For some h.e.l.lish purpose.

PRIEST. (_At the altar, advances._) Lord Don Diego, I tell you this is no invented tale, This Father Miguel is well known to me, A worthy priest of our most holy Church.

The bond is valid.

D. DIE. Flouted on all sides!

How now! Do I dream? Am I master here, Or am I not?

F'TH. M. Another Master there's Above us all, more powerful than thou, Dispensing justice and avenging wrong.

D. DIE. What cant is this? Ho! guards, cut down the rabble.

[_Some halberdiers advance. D. Pascual and gipsies put themselves on the defensive._

F'TH. M. Raise but a finger, or cause to be raised An arm in thy defence, and dread the worst.

D. DIE. This from a shaven crown! A pretty plight For feudal lord to be in! What ho! guards.

[_A skirmish ensues, and guards are beaten back by gipsies._ On, cowards, on! Where are my men-at-arms?

F'TH. M. All drugged, and powerless by my device.

They sleep like dead men. Seek no help from them.

D. DIE. d.a.m.nation! Am I worsted by a priest And gang of squalid gipsies? Ho! my men, Go, rouse the sluggards! Bring my armour, quick.

F'TH. M. (_To Guards._) Budge but an inch, and not a man of ye shall see to-morrow's sun.

D. DIE. How now! Who's he That threatens and gives orders in my hall?

Have I no friends among these honoured guests To save me from these insults? Who am I?

F'TH. M. A sinner, made amenable to law.

D. DIE. (_Laughs diabolically._) Ha, ha! This craven's insolence is such It well nigh moves my laughter. How now! guests, Not one sword drawn! No single arm upraised.

A GUEST. My Lord Don Diego, in a cause that's just My sword is at your service. So say all The others. But we will not fight for wrong.

Let us be first persuaded if this priest Have right upon his side. Show us the bond.

D. DIE. The bond is but a forgery.

D. PAS. 'Tis false, Thou lying knave. I'll make thee eat thy words.

D. DIE. Who is this mongrel gipsy, bold of tongue, Who beards us with drawn sword.

F'TH. M. Your lawful son, Of this poor gipsy born in holy marriage.

D. DIE. The tale is too preposterous.

OFFICIATING PRIEST. Nay, look Well on the bond, Don Diego.

GUESTS ALL. Ay, the bond.

D. DIE (_To Officiating Priest._) And thou, Sir Shaveling, didst thou not come here To-night to draw up deed of legal marriage?

And dost thou now come forward and take part With this base priest, who for some plan of his----