Mortadello

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 ?