The Stolen Heiress Part 6

_Enter Count_ Pirro.

_Pir._ I came my Lord, to claim your Promise, and receive into my Arms the beautiful _Lucasia_.

_Grav._ And I'll acquit myself instantly. Within there--call _Lucasia_.

_Enter_ Laura.

_Laura._ My Lord.

_Grav._ My----call your Lady; what does your Flurts.h.i.+p do here? I want your Mistress----why don't the Wench stir?

_Laura._ My Lord, I don't know.----

_Grav._ What don't you know? nay, no grinding between your Teeth, speak out.

_Laura._ Why then, my Lord, I don't know where she is.

_Grav._ 'Tis false, 'tis impossible; when went she out? and whither?

Speak ye confederate Mischief; how long ago, I say? Confess, or I'll have ye rack'd.

_Laura._ She would not take me with her to prevent Suspicion; and now all must out, for my Limbs will never bear stretching, that's certain.

[_Aside._

_Grav._ What are you inventing a Lye----don't stand muttering your Devil's Pater-noster there, but speak quickly--or-- [_Draws his Sword._

_Laura._ Oh hold, it was, my Lord, my Lord, a, a, a----

_Grav._ What was it? speak.

_Laura._ It was a great while ago, my Lord.

_Grav._ Ha, speak to the Purpose, or thou dy'st.

_Laura._ No, no, no, my Lord, it was----it was just now; what shall I say to save my unhappy Mistress? [_Aside._

_Pirro._ You terrify the Creature so, that we shall never learn the Truth, my Lord; don't tremble so, Sweetheart, but tell when went your Lady out, and whither?

_Grav._ Away my Lord, my Sword shall fetch the Secret forth; Huzzy, speak, or by this Hand, this Minute is thy last.

[_Holds his Sword to her Breast._

_Laura._ Oh, hold Sir, and I will tell you all; I do confess.

_Grav._ What?

_Laura._ It must out; that my Lady's fled to meet _Palante_ in the Eastern Grove, and I believe, by this, they are married.

_Grav._ Fly and escape my Fury, thou more than Devil.

[_Straps her with his Sword, she shrieks and runs off._

Now, my Lord of _Pirro_, you that so kindly came this Day to comfort me, how shall I look you in the Face? or what Reparation can I make you, if my Daughter's lost? Within there! raise the House, take Officers immediately, I charge you; fly to the Eastern Grove, and seize my Daughter and all that you find with her: We'll have Revenge, my Lord, at least.

_Pirro._ There's yet a Pleasure left in that, and I'm resolv'd my Arm shall give him Death; let's to the Grove, my Lord.

_Rosco._ Do you consider, my Lord, the Danger of your rash Attempt, the Law will do you right; 'tis present Death in _Sicily_, to steal an Heiress without her Friends consent; first secure him, and his Lifes yours.

_Eug._ 'Tis as I suppose; oh Treachery! [_Aside._

_Grav. Rosco_, thou art an Oracle, that Way the Revenge is more secure and certain. I'll after 'em, and see the Traitor brought to condign Punishment. [_Exit with_ Rosco.

_Pirro._ I'll to the Governor, and prepare him for the Judgment, my Interest there will surely sign his Death. [_Going._

_Eug._ Am I alive? do I breathe? can I have a human Soul, and suffer this injustice to proceed? Poor _Palante_, must thou die, because Fortune has not blest thee with her Favours; No, something I will do to save thee; and yet, if possible not discover who I am. My Lord---- [_Pulls Count_ Pirro _by the Sleeve as he goes out_.

_Pirro._ What art thou?

_Eug._ A poor Poet, my Lord, little beholden to Fortune.

_Pirro._ None of thy Profession are, take up some more thriving Occupation; turn Pimp, Solicitor, Gamester, any Thing will do better than Rhiming; there's something for thee, I'm in Haste now.

_Eug._ My Lord, I thank you for your Charity, and your good Advice; but I have some for you too.

_Pirro._ For me! what is't?

_Eug._ I understand, my Lord, that you are to marry my Lord _Gravello_'s Daughter.

_Pirro._ Yes, an Heiress----

_Eug._ No Heiress, my Lord, her Brother is alive.

_Pirro._ The Fellow's mad.

_Eug._ What I say is certain Truth; and to my Knowledge, his Father gives out the Report of his Death only as a Bait for you.

_Pirro._ Ha! where is he?

_Eug._ In this Town conceal'd till your Marriage be over; know I hate this Family, and that makes me discover it.

_Pirro._ Does he hate the Family? then perhaps he has only forg'd this Lye to hinder _Lucasia_ from marrying into mine; I'll try him farther.

[_Aside._ Art thou sure he is alive?

_Eug._ As sure as that I live myself; my Lord, I saw him not two Hours ago; I wish he was not, for your Lords.h.i.+p's sake: I am his Domestic, and come now to learn Intelligence; I loath my Servitude, detest the proud Family, and shou'd rejoice to see 'em ruin'd.

_Pirro._ From whence proceeds thy Hate? the World reports _Eugenio_ a Man of Honour, Honesty and Courage.

_Eug._ That Part of the World that thinks him such, sees thro' the wrong End of the Prospective; his Honour's but Pretence, his Honesty Hypocrisy, and his Courage Lewdness; he ravisht a Sister of mine at _Rome_, for which I never can forgive him.

_Pirro._ This Fellow, I find is ripe for Mischief; and if I durst trust him, wou'd, for a large Reward, remove _Eugenio_, and make _Lucasia_ indeed an Heiress; and 'twere but just, since Count _Gravello_ did design to wrong me of his Estate, why shou'd not I rob him of his Son?

where could be the Danger of this Act; I can't fore-see any, for he has already given it out he's dead, and therefore dares not search into the Matter; but is it safe to trust this Stranger, he may betray my Purpose, or not do it; yet 'tis reasonable to think the contrary, for he hates him for his Sister's Rape, and therefore would be glad to meet Occasion to revenge it, especially when usher'd in by a great Sum: I'm resolv'd to break it to him. [_Aside._] What is your Name, Friend?