56 
MORTADELLO 
57 
 
LUCREZIA.  Oh how I love you. 
MONICA. 
 
Ah !  your love.  I pay its price ! 
Quick, to the door girl.  Footsteps.  ’Tis Orlando. 
LUCREZIA. 
Yes. 
MONICA.  Do up your hair.  Give me one kiss.  Oh loveliness ! 
 
 
 
[A knock. 
Come in !  Come in !  I have waited long. 
 
Enter ORLANDO. 
LUCREZIA. 
 
Farewell, Princess ! 
MONICA.  Farewell—and see the guard is strong. 
 
 
 
[Exit LUCREZIA. 
ORLANDO. 
 
The bloodhounds press 
Hard on my heels. 
MONICA. 
Are we safe here ? 
ORLANDO. 
 
They cannot find 
The secret passage ;  have no fear. 
MONICA. 
Oh, love is blind. 
Did you do wisely ? 
ORLANDO. 
Stratagem secure. 
MONICA. 
Then how 
Goes the great chance ? 
ORLANDO. 
 Too well for them, dear love, just now ! 
They have seized a few imprudent friends, they watch the 
rest. 
Our hope is, the good Abbess sends a courier pressed 
To Rome ;  the Archbishop doubts his eyes and ears that 
saw 
And heard such sacrilege.  He lies at odds with law, 
Hanging on the breath of Rome ;  who knows what tale he 
has told ?