(Flings open the door leading into the laboratory, which is filled with flames, and calls) Bilent! Here, take the girl! (Pushes Polyxena into the laboratory. Polyxena screams with terror, and Bilent’s laugh answers her. The door closes, the mistresses flee, shrieking with fright, Zuzanka, Eliška, and Lenka, alone remain. Rozmberk gazes after the fleeing figures, laughs and hastens through the door at the right.)
Scene XI
Zuzanka, Eliška and Lenka
(Zuzanka, trembling, clings to a chair.)
Eliška.—An evil spirit has taken possession of him! He is completely in its power, and in his madness has given up his victim to be destroyed! Woe, woe unto us, what evil will he yet do today?
Lenka (Frightened but listening intently to the sounds that come from the laboratory).—I hear wild laughter, groans,—the hissing of flame, wild unknown voices,—a hellish orgy! He has destroyed, murdered her! Now all is quiet again, and I only hear that wild, unearthly laughter! (The sound of something falling is heard from the laboratory, the flame dies down. Panic-stricken, Eliška and Lenka both flee away, screaming. Zuzanka sinks down upon a chair.)
Zuzanka (Alone).—Human happiness will abide here no longer! Oh, where are those days, when light-winged joy hovered above us, scattering flowers all around, when the heavens were smiling, and the clouds of pain and sorrow could not be found! How terrible is that devil which controls you, how awful is that power which breathes desolation and destruction over your garden!
Scene XII
Zuzanka, Chamberlain Oldřich; later Ctibor
Oldřich (Enters terrified).—For Heaven’s sake, lady, what has gone wrong with the master?
Zuzanka.—What is it, what is happening?
Oldřich.—They are saying in the castle, that he caused the niece of Hannewaldt to be put to death in a fit of anger. He has
