PEPITO.  Well,  at  least,  admit  that  Teodora  was
giddy,  if  not  really  culpable.
ERNEST.  Guilt  is  prudent  and  cautious.  On  the
other  hand,  how  imprudent  is  innocence !

PEPITO.  Look  here,  if  your  rule  holds  good  for
everybody,  the  worst  of  us  is  an  angel  or  a  saint.
ERNEST.  You  are  right.  What  does  it  matter?
What  is  the  weight  or  value  of  such  calumny?  The
worst  of  it  is  that  thought  is  degraded  by  mean  con-
tact with  a  mean  idea.  From  force  of  dwelling
upon  a  crime,  the  conscience  becomes  familiar  with
it.  It  shows  itself  terrible  and  repellent  —  but  it
shows  itself — at  night,  in  dark  solitude!  Yes  —
[aside]  — but  what!  why  are  they  listening  to  me  so
strangely,  almost  in  suspense?  [Aloud.]  I  am  my-
self; my  name  is  an  honourable  one.  If  I  killed
Nebreda  solely  because  of  a  lie,  what  would  I  not
do  to  myself  if  guilt  threatened  to  give  the  truth  to
calumny?

PEPITO  [Aside  to  MERCEDES].  He  denied  it!
Why,  it  is  as  clear  as  daylight.
MERCEDES     [Aside  to  PEPITO].    He's  wandering.
PEPITO.     'Tis  only  his  confession  he's  making.
[Ill]


THE  GREAT  GALEOTO


MERCEDES  [Aloud].  That  will  do,  Ernest.  Go
now.
ERNEST.  Impossible,  madam.  I  should  go  mad
if  I  had  to  spend  to-night  away  from  this  sick-room
—  out  of  my  mind.
MERCEDES.  But  if  Severe  came  and  found
you?

ERNEST.  What  do  I  care?  He  is  a  loyal  gentle-
man. Better  still,  let  him  come.  We  fly  from  fear,
and  only  the  guilty  are  afraid.  Nothing  will  make
me  run  away,  or  acknowledge  fear.
PEPITO     [Listening].     Somebody  is  coming.
MERCEDES.     Is  it  he?

PEPITO     [Going  down  the  stage].     No,  'tis  Teodora.
ERNEST.  Teodora!  Teodora!  I  want  to  see
her.
