now, Marinelli.

MARINELLI.

It is suspected that the Count was not attacked by robbers----

ODOARDO (_with a sneer_).

Indeed!

MARINELLI.

But that a rival hired assassins to despatch him.

ODOARDO (_bitterly_).

Indeed! A rival?

MARINELLI.

Exactly.

ODOARDO.

Well then--May damnation overtake the vile assassin!

MARINELLI.

A rival--a favoured rival too.

ODOARDO.

How? Favoured? What say you?

MARINELLI.

Nothing but what fame reports.

ODOARDO.

Favoured? favoured by my daughter?

MARINELLI.

Certainly not. That cannot be. Were you to say it I would contradict
it. But, on this account, your Highness, though no prejudice, however
well-grounded, can be of any weight in the scale of justice, it will,
nevertheless, be absolutely necessary that the unfortunate lady should
be examined.

PRINCE.

True--undoubtedly.

MARINELLI.

And where can this be done but in Guastalla?

PRINCE.

There you are right, Marinelli, there you are right.--This alters the
affair, dear Galotti. Is it not so. You yourself must see----

ODOARDO.

Yes! I see----what I see. O God! O God!

PRINCE.

What now? What is the matter?

ODOARDO.

I am only angry with myself for not having foreseen what I now
perceive. Well, then--she shall return to Guastalla. I will take her to
her mother, and till she has been acquitted, after the most rigid
examination, I myself will not leave Guastalla. For who knows--(_with a
bitter smile of irony_)--who knows whether the court of justice may not
think it necessary to examine me?

MARINELLI.

It is very possible. In such cases justice rather does too much than
too little. I therefore even fear----

PRINCE.

What? What do you fear?

MARINELLI.

That the mother and daughter will not, at present, be suffered to
confer together.