ORSINA (_as if petrified_).

Have I? Have, I indeed?

MARINELLI.

Most certainly.

ORSINA (_deeply affected_).

"I am engaged, I am not alone." Is this all the excuse I am worth? For whose dismissal would not these words serve? For every importunate, for every beggar. Could he not frame one little falsehood for me? Engaged!

With what? Not alone! Who can be with him? Marinelli, dear Marinelli, be compa.s.sionate--tell me a falsehood on your own account. What can a falsehood cost you? What has he to do? Who is with him? Tell me, tell me. Say anything which first occurs to you, and I will go.

MARINELLI (_aside_).

On this condition, I may tell her part of the truth.

ORSINA.

Quick, Marinelli, and I will go. He said, "Another time, dear Countess!" Did he not? That he may keep his promise--that he may have no pretext to break it--quick, then, Marinelli,--tell me a falsehood, and I will go.

MARINELLI.

The Prince, dear Countess, is really not alone. There are persons with him, whom he cannot leave for a moment--persons, who have just escaped imminent danger. Count Appiani----

ORSINA.

Is with him! What a pity that I know this to be false! Quick, another!

for Count Appiani, if you do not know it, has just been a.s.sa.s.sinated by robbers. I met the carriage, with his body in it, as I came from town.

Or did I not? Was it a dream?

MARINELLI.

Alas, it was not a dream. But they who accompanied the Count were fortunately rescued, and are now in this palace; namely, a lady to whom he was betrothed, and whom, with her mother, he was conducting to Sabionetta, to celebrate his nuptials.

ORSINA.

They are with the Prince! A lady and her mother! Is the lady handsome?

MARINELLI.

The Prince is extremely sorry for her situation.

ORSINA.

That he would be, I hope, even if she were hideous--for her fate is dreadful. Poor girl! at the moment he was to become thine for ever, he was torn for ever from thee. Who is she? Do I know her? I have of late been so much out of town, that I am ignorant of every thing.

MARINELLI.

It is Emilia Galotti.

ORSINA.

What? Emilia Galotti? Oh, Marinelli, let me not mistake this lie for truth.

MARINELLI.

Why?

ORSINA.

Emilia Galotti?

MARINELLI.

Yes. Whom you can scarcely know.

ORSINA.

I do know her--though our acquaintance only began to-day. Emilia Galotti! Answer me seriously. Is Emilia Galotti the unfortunate lady whom the Prince is consoling?

MARINELLI (_aside_).

Can I have disclosed too much?

ORSINA.

And Count Appiani was her destined bridegroom--Count Appiani, who was shot to-day?

MARINELLI.

Exactly.

ORSINA (_clapping her hands_).

Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!

MARINELLI.

What now?

ORSINA.

I could kiss the devil that tempted him to do it.

MARINELLI.

Whom? Tempted? To do what?

ORSINA.