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Act 2
Dialogue following song No. 9.
Rita:
'Twas Vasquez. He has been watching through the night, and now goes to meet Juan on the road. The robbers are all sleeping; surely there ought to be now some chance of escape.
Enter Sancho, L. H., yawning.
Sancho:
Hallo' young woman. You haven't got very long to live it may be; but that's no reason you should rob us of our amusements by throwing yourself over the rocks.
Rita:
Has your chief received no messsage from my friends?
Sancho:
Not a scrap. The Queen has fixed your ransom at 2000 piastres; that's the price your friends will have to pay for the pleasure of seeing you again. (Yawns.) I'm very tired after last night's festivities. I'm on duty now, my pretty lamb, instead of the old shepherd. So in with thee, unless you're stopping out here on purpose to give me a kiss. (He approaches her. She retreats into the hut.) Ha' perhaps she objects to my moustachios. (Yawns.) Well, as I am to keep guard, I can do it as well lying down as standing, and I can shake off that last bottle with a quiet doze. Here's the old shepherd's covering; that'll do. Very thoughtful of him to leave it.
Lies down before the door of the hut, after entirely covering himself in a shaggy skin. Music. Enter, cautiously, Jose and Inez, L.H.
José:
All's quiet.
Inez:
What's that? (pointing to Sancho.)
José:
The old shepherd, fast asleep.
Inez:
Now. Speak. What's to be done?
José:
This Englishman is a pretty captain for our band!
Inez:
A fitting partner for me - me, the wife of the bold Ferdinand di Roxas!
José:
Sweetest daughter of the Ladrones, I have an idea.
Inez:
Stolen?
José:
No, my own. Pride of the mountains, listen!
Inez:
Proceed.
José:
Lambkin of the valley, we must get rid of two people. The Wolf has laid a trap for the Lion.
Sancho puts his head out of the skin and appears listening.
Inez:
You mean - (putting her hand on dagger.)
José:
I do. You anticipate my original idea.
Inez:
'Tis for great minds to leap together.
José:
And we will leap together. Dove-like creature, the Lion must die!
Inez:
But the stranger - the chief -
José:
For him - but first let me be assured that you smile upon my suit.
Inez:
(sternly) I do.
José:
(rapturously) She does! Angelic being! When the stranger is trying to win your affections, struck as he must be by your melting eye, persuade him that Sancho's assassination is necessary to your happiness; the stranger will assassinate Sancho, and then the band, in justice to a comrade, will assassinate the stranger. So we get rid of both. (Sancho has left his skin, and threateningly goes R. H. into cave.) Then I shall be the captain, and you my wife and queen.
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Page Created 15 February 2004