Ay--you would answer for anything. I suppose, for instance, you would like to take a troop of my guards, lie in ambush by the highway, fall to the number of fifty upon one carriage, and bear the girl in triumph to me.
A girl has been carried off before now by force, though there has been no appearance of force in the transaction.----
If you were able to do this, you would not talk so much about it.
----But I cannot be answerable for the consequences. Unforeseen accidents may happen.
Is it my custom to make people answerable for what they cannot help?
Therefore your Highness will--(_a pistol is fired at a distance_). Ha! What was that? Did not my ears deceive me? Did not your Highness also hear a shot. And hark! Another!
How if I were more active than you deemed me?
In short, what I mentioned is now taking place.
But forget not, Prince, what you just now promised. You pledge your word that----
The necessary precautions I hope have been taken.
Yes, as carefully as possible. The execution of my plan is entrusted to people on whom I can rely. The road, as you know, runs close by your park fence. There the carriage will be attacked by a party, apparently to rob the travellers. Another band (one of whom is my trusty servant) will rush from the park as if to assist those who are attacked. During the sham battle between the two parties, my servant will seize Emilia, as if to rescue her, and bring her through the park into the palace. This is the plan. What says your Highness now?
You surprise me beyond measure. A fearful anxiety comes o'er me. (Marinelli _walks to the window_.) What are you looking at?
That must be the scene of action--yes, and see, some one in a mask has just leapt over the fence--doubtless to acquaint me with the result. Withdraw awhile, your Highness.
Well--now, doubtless, I have done too much--as I before had done too little.
Not so--not so--yet I cannot perceive----
Perceive?--It is best done at one blow. Withdraw quickly. You must not be seen here.
The carriage is returning slowly to town. So slowly? and at each door a servant? These appearances do not please me; they show the plot has only half succeeded. They are driving some wounded person carefully, and he is not dead. The fellow in the mask comes nearer. 'Tis Angelo himself--foolhardy! But he knows the windings of this place. He beckons to me--he must know that he has succeeded.--Ha! ha! Count Appiani. You, who refused an embassy to Massa, have been obliged to go a longer journey. Who taught you to recognize apes so well? 'Tis true, they are malicious (_walks towards the door_). Well, Angelo?