Karmín.—Gracious Earl, pray save yourself!
Earl.—I am protecting my home. I shall remain here.
(The balcony fills up with armed people. The distant noises sound nearer.)
Cries (In the distance).—To the castle! (At the edge of the park, appear Výrava, Dvořák, Václav, Králíček and other peasants who quietly steal towards the front.)
Scene II
The preceding. Výrava, Dvořák, Králíček, later Sterneck, Kyral.
Secretary (In muffled tones).—Here they are, here they are!
Earl (In muffled tones).—Get ready to fire.
Výrava.—They are waiting for us. But there won’t be many of them and we can easily overwhelm them.
Králíček.—Výrava, request them to surrender.
Dvořák.—Nothing of the sort. (Converses animatedly with Výrava. In the castle, steps and noises are heard.)
Sterneck (Behind the scenes).—To the Earl at once! (Enters from left side and goes towards the balcony accompanied by an armed servant of the castle.)
Earl.—Sterneck, you here? Go around the other way.
Sterneck.—No, indeed. I’ll get to you quicker this way. (Leaps up on the balcony.) So—I’m here!
Karmín.—And military help?
Sterneck.—Will be here in a little while. I hastened ahead with that news to you.
Karmín.—Then there’s no need to fear anything. (To the Earl.) Allow, me, your Grace, to carry out something against those over there. (Points towards the insurrectionists.) I think my design will succeed.
Earl.—What do you wish to do?
Karmín.—To capture or kill Výrava.
Výrava (Steps into the foreground).—In the name of all the people standing behind me, I demand your surrender.
Karmín. (Bursts out with four foresters upon Výrava).—Yes,—we’ll surrender—thus! (He attacks Výrava whom he tries to pull to the ground. Shouts of the people. Výrava rises, Václav, Dvořák and others overpower the foresters who remain between
