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 lust 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. Djâbel, 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 substitute
  To act for him. That substitute 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 hellish 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. Damnation! 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----

  OFF. PRIEST. My compliance was but in appearance. I came, well knowing of your former marriage,
  Twenty-two years ago, as saith the bond,
  With her they call the Gipsy Queen. All this
  I had from Father Miguel; and besides,
  Have well perused the bond, which, being valid,
  I could not undertake to tie the knot
  In conscience, and have no intent to do 't. D. DIE. I was but mocked, then? GUESTS ALL. Come, the bond! the bond! D. DIE. Give me the bond. I'll soon cut short this work. [_Snatches the bond from the hands of Gipsy Queen. Glances
          hastily over it, and proceeds to tear it._

  'Tis false. This is no signature of mine. GIP. Q. Darest to deny thy bond? Die, villain, then,
  In this thy perjury! [_Stabs Don Diego._

  D. DIE. Help! help! I bleed. [_Falls._

  GUARDS. Don Diego to the rescue! Seize the hag. [_Guards and a few guests lay hands on Gipsy Queen._

  D. PAS. (_Furiously._) Leave go, my mother. He that lays a hand
  Upon her person, I'll send straight to hell. A GUEST. (_Advancing with drawn sword._) Secure this furious and
      audacious youth. D. PAS. Have at thee, then. [_Kills guest._

  GUEST                       I die. [_Dies._

  TWO GUESTS. (_Advancing._)        Hold him! hold him! [_Both guests attack Pascual at once, but are driven back. Guards come up and attempt to seize him. Gipsies attack
          guards, and a general skirmish ensues. Two guards are
          killed by gipsies. One gipsy falls. Don Silvio bears off
          Inez in the confusion._

  F'TH. M. Peace, brethren, for a while, and no more blood. A GUEST. Look to Don Diego, friends, and seize the hag. [_All surround Gipsy Queen, who stabs herself and falls. All
          draw back._

  GIP. Q. This life is forfeit. I for vengeance lived;
  My mission is accomplished upon earth. I vowed to heaven. Heaven has heard my prayer. And I depart. D. PAS. (_Rushes up, and throws himself beside the Gipsy Queen._) Oh,
      mother! dear mother. D. DIE. Help! help! Who has put out the lights and left
  Me all in darkness? A GUEST. No one, noble lord. F'TH. M. 'Tis but the darkness of thine own dark soul,
  Now upon the brink of eternity;
  I counsel thee, confess, and then receive
  The consolation that the Church affords. D. DIE. Water! I thirst. Alas! how grim is death! I am afraid to die. I burn! I burn! How hideous all the forms that flit around;

  OFFICIATING PRIEST. My lord Don Diego, prithee die not thus;
  But ask forgiveness first, of all you've wronged. D. DIE. Good father, willingly; but who would grant
  Forgiveness unto such a wretch as I? GIP.