--Enough! Lord, what is the matter with me? Leon, I love you!
Leon.--Oh, my dearest! (He presses her to his breast. A moment of
silence.)
Jadwiga.--I have found you. I loved you always. Ah! how miserable
I was without you! With love for you I defended myself from all
temptations. You do not know it, but I used to see you. It caused me
grief and joy. I could not live any longer without you, and I asked
you to come--I did it purposely. If you had not come, something
dreadful would have happened. Now we shall never separate. We shall
never be angry--is it not so? (A moment of silence.)
Leon (as though awakening from slumber).--Madam, you must pardon me--I
mistook the present for the past, and permitted myself to be carried
away by an illusion. Pardon me!
Jadwiga.--Leon, what do you mean?
Leon (earnestly).--I forgot for a moment that you are the wife of
another.
Jadwiga.--Oh, you are always honest and loyal. No, there shall be no
guilty love between us. I know you, my great, my noble Leon. The hand
which I stretch out to you is pure--I swear it to you. You must also
forgive me a moment of forgetfulness. Here I stand before you, and
say to you: I will not be yours until I am free. But I know that my
husband will consent to a divorce. I will leave him all my fortune,
and because I formerly offended your pride--it was my fault--yes, my
own fault--you shall take me poor, in this dress only--will it suit
you? Then I will become your lawful wife.
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