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the happiest young lady in Venice！
CAS。 A secret？
DUCH。 A secret which； for State reasons； it has been
necessary to preserve for twenty years。
DUKE。 When you were a prattling babe of six months old you
were married by proxy to no less a personage than the infant son
and heir of His Majesty the immeasurably wealthy King of
Barataria！
CAS。 Married to the infant son of the King of Barataria？
Was I consulted？ （Duke shakes his head。） Then it was a most
unpardonable liberty！
DUKE。 Consider his extreme youth and forgive him。 Shortly
after the ceremony that misguided monarch abandoned the creed of
his forefathers； and became a Wesleyan Methodist of the most
bigoted and persecuting type。 The Grand Inquisitor； determined
that the innovation should not be perpetuated in Barataria；
caused your smiling and unconscious husband to be stolen and
conveyed to Venice。 A fortnight since the Methodist Monarch and
all his Wesleyan Court were killed in an insurrection； and we are
here to ascertain the whereabouts of your husband； and to hail
you； our daughter； as Her Majesty； the reigning Queen of
Barataria！ （Kneels。）
（During this speech Luiz re…enters。）
DUCH。 Your Majesty！ （Kneels。） （Drum roll。）
DUKE。 It is at such moments as these that one feels how
necessary it is to travel with a full band。
CAS。 I； the Queen of Barataria！ But I've nothing to wear！
We are practically penniless！
DUKE。 That point has not escaped me。 Although I am
unhappily in straitened circumstances at present； my social
influence is something enormous； and a Company； to be called the
Duke of Plaza…Toro； Limited； is in course of formation to work
me。 An influential directorate has been secured； and I shall
myself join the Board after allotment。
CAS。 Am I to understand that the Queen of Barataria may be
called upon at any time to witness her honoured sire in process
of liquidation？
DUCH。 The speculation is not exempt from that drawback。 If
your father should stop； it will； of course； be necessary to wind
him up。
CAS。 But it's so undignifiedit's so degrading！ A Grandee
of Spain turned into a public company！ Such a thing was never
heard of！
DUKE。 My child； the Duke of Plaza…Toro does not follow
fashionshe leads them。 He always leads everybody。 When he was
in the army he led his regiment。 He occasionally led them into
action。 He invariably led them out of it。
SONGDUKE OF PLAZA…TORO。
In enterprise of martial kind；
When there was any fighting；
He led his regiment from behind
He found it less exciting。
But when away his regiment ran；
His place was at the fore； O
That celebrated；
Cultivated；
Underrated
Nobleman；
The Duke of Plaza…Toro！
ALL。 In the first and foremost flight； ha； ha！
You always found that knight； ha； ha！
That celebrated；
Cultivated；
Underrated
Nobleman；
The Duke of Plaza…Toro！
DUKE。 When； to evade Destruction's hand；
To hide they all proceeded；
No soldier in that gallant band
Hid half as well as he did。
He lay concealed throughout the war；
And so preserved his gore； O！
That unaffected；
Undetected；
Well…connected
Warrior；
The Duke of Plaza…Toro！
ALL。 In every doughty deed； ha； ha！
He always took the lead； ha； ha！
That unaffected；
Undetected；
Well…connected
Warrior；
The Duke of Plaza…Toro！
DUKE。 When told that they would all be shot
Unless they left the service；
That hero hesitated not；
So marvellous his nerve is。
He sent his resignation in；
The first of all his corps； O！
That very knowing；
Overflowing；
Easy…going
Paladin；
The Duke of Plaza…Toro！
ALL。 To men of grosser clay； ha； ha！
He always showed the way； ha； ha！
That very knowing；
Overflowing；
Easy…going
Paladin；
The Duke of Plaza…Toro！
（Exeunt Duke and Duchess into Grand Ducal Palace。 As soon as
they have disappeared； Luiz and Casilda rush to each other's
arms。）
RECITATIVE AND DUETCASILDA AND LUIZ。
O rapture； when alone together
Two loving hearts and those that bear them
May join in temporary tether；
Though Fate apart should rudely tear them。
CAS。 Necessity； Invention's mother；
Compelled me to a course of feigning
But； left alone with one another；
I will atone for my disdaining！
AIR
CAS。 Ah； well…beloved；
Mine angry frown
Is but a gown
That serves to dress
My gentleness！
LUIZ。 Ah； well…beloved；
Thy cold disdain；
It gives no pain
'Tis mercy； played
In masquerade！
BOTH。 Ah； well…beloved； etc。
CAS。 O Luiz； Luizwhat have you said？ What have I done？
What have I allowed you to do？
LUIZ。 Nothing； I trust； that you will ever have reason to
repent。 （Offering to embrace her。）
CAS。 （withdrawing from him）。 Nay； Luiz； it may not be。 I
have embraced you for the last time。
LUIZ （amazed）。 Casilda！
CAS。 I have just learnt； to my surprise and indignation；
that I was wed in babyhood to the infant son of the King of
Barataria！
LUIZ。 The son of the King of Barataria？ The child who was
stolen in infancy by the Inquisition？
CAS。 The same。 But； of course； you know his story。
LUIZ。 Know his story？ Why； I have often told you that my
mother was the nurse to whose charge he was entrusted！
CAS。 True。 I had forgotten。 Well； he has been discovered；
and my father has brought me here to claim his hand。
LUIZ。 But you will not recognize this marriage？ It took
place when you were too young to understand its import。
CAS。 Nay； Luiz； respect my principles and cease to torture
me with vain entreaties。 Henceforth my life is another's。
LUIZ。 But staythe present and the futurethey are
another's； but the pastthat at least is ours； and none can take
it from us。 As we may revel in naught else； let us revel in
that！
CAS。 I don't think I grasp your meaning。
LUIZ。 Yet it is logical enough。 You say you cease to love
me？
CAS。 （demurely）。 I say I may not love you。
LUIZ。 Ah； but you do not say you did not love me？
CAS。 I loved you with a frenzy that words are powerless to
expressand that but ten brief minutes since！
LUIZ。 Exactly。 My ownthat is； until ten minutes since；
my ownmy lately loved； my recently adoredtell me that until；
say a quarter of an hour ago； I was all in all to thee！
（Embracing her。）
CAS。 I see your idea。 It's ingenious； but don't do that。
（Releasing herself。）
LUIZ。 There can be no harm in revelling in the past。
CAS。 None whatever； but an embrace cannot be taken to act
retrospectively。
LUIZ。 Perhaps not！
CAS。 We may recollect an embraceI recollect manybut we
must not repeat them。
LUIZ。 Then let us recollect a few！ （A moment's pause； as
they recollect； then both heave a deep sigh。）
LUIZ。 Ah； Casilda； you were to me as the sun is to the
earth！
CAS。 A quarter of an hour ago？
LUIZ。 About that。
CAS。 And to think that； but for this miserable discovery；
you would have been my own for life！
LUIZ。 Through life to deatha quarter of an hour ago！
CAS。 How greedily my thirsty ears would have drunk the
golden melody of those sweet words a quarterwell； it's now
about twenty minutes since。 （Looking at her watch。）
LUIZ。 About that。 In such a matter one cannot b