MARQUIS POSA comes through the gallery. CARLOS.

MARQUIS.
Carlos! My Carlos!

CARLOS.
Who calls me? Ah! 'tis thou—I was in haste
To gain the convent! You will not delay.

[Going.

MARQUIS.
Hold! for a moment.

CARLOS.
We may be observed.

MARQUIS.
No chance of that. 'Tis over now. The queen——

CARLOS.
You've seen my father.

MARQUIS.
Yes! he sent for me.

CARLOS (full of expectation).
Well!

MARQUIS.
'Tis all settled—you may see the queen.

CARLOS.
Yes! but the king! What said the king to you?

MARQUIS.
Not much. Mere curiosity to learn
My history. The zeal of unknown friends—
I know not what. He offered me employment.

CARLOS.
Which you, of course, rejected?

MARQUIS.
Yes, of course

CARLOS.
How did you separate?

MARQUIS.
Oh, well enough!

CARLOS.
And was I mentioned?

MARQUIS.
Yes; in general terms.

[Taking out a pocketbook and giving it to the PRINCE.

See here are two lines written by the queen,
To-morrow I will settle where and how.

CARLOS (reads it carelessly, puts the tablet in his pocket,
and is going).
You'll meet me at the prior's?

MARQUIS.
Yes! But stay
Why in such haste? No one is coming hither.

CARLOS (with a forced smile).
Have we in truth changed characters? To-day
You seem so bold and confident.

MARQUIS.
To-day—
Wherefore to-day?

CARLOS.
What writes the queen to me?

MARQUIS.
Have you not read this instant?

CARLOS.
I? Oh yes.

MARQUIS.
What is't disturbs you now?

CARLOS (reads the tablet again, delighted and fervently).
Angel of Heaven!
I will be so,—I will be worthy of thee.
Love elevates great minds. So come what may,
Whatever thou commandest, I'll perform.
She writes that I must hold myself prepared
For a great enterprise! What can she mean?
Dost thou not know?

MARQUIS.
And, Carlos, if I knew,
Say, art thou now prepared to hear it from me?

CARLOS.
Have I offended thee? I was distracted.
Roderigo, pardon me.

MARQUIS.
Distracted! How?

CARLOS.
I scarcely know! But may I keep this tablet?

MARQUIS.
Not so! I came to ask thee for thine own.

CARLOS.
My tablet! Why?

MARQUIS.
And whatsoever writings
You have, unfit to meet a stranger's eye—
Letters or memorandums, and in short,
Your whole portfolio.

CARLOS.
Why?

MARQUIS.
That we may be
Prepared for accidents. Who can prevent
Surprise? They'll never seek them in my keeping.
Here, give them to me——

CARLOS (uneasy).
Strange! What can it mean?

MARQUIS.
Be not alarmed! 'Tis nothing of importance
A mere precaution to prevent surprise.
You need not be alarmed!

CARLOS (gives him the portfolio).
Be careful of it.

MARQUIS.
Be sure I will.

CARLOS (looks at him significantly).
I give thee much, Roderigo!

MARQUIS.
Not more than I have often had from thee.
The rest we'll talk of yonder. Now farewell.

[Going.

CARLOS (struggling with himself, then calls him back).
Give me my letters back; there's one amongst them
The queen addressed to me at Alcala,
When I was sick to death. Still next my heart
I carry it; to take this letter from me
Goes to my very soul. But leave me that,
And take the rest.

[He takes it out, and returns the portfolio.

MARQUIS.
I yield unwillingly—
For 'twas that letter which I most required.

CARLOS.
Farewell!

[He goes away slowly, stops a moment at the door, turns
back again, and brings him the letter.

You have it there.

[His hand trembles, tears start from his eyes, he falls on
the neck of the MARQUIS, and presses his face to his bosom.

Oh, not my father,
Could do so much, Roderigo! Not my father!

[Exit hastily.