BERNARDO: 
Dead; murdered.

LUCRETIA [WITH EXTREME AGITATION]: 
Oh no, no! 
He is not murdered though he may be dead; 60
I have alone the keys of those apartments.

SAVELLA: 
Ha!  Is it so?

BEATRICE: 
My Lord, I pray excuse us;
We will retire; my mother is not well: 
She seems quite overcome with this strange horror.

[EXEUNT LUCRETIA AND BEATRICE.]

SAVELLA: 
Can you suspect who may have murdered him? 65

BERNARDO: 
I know not what to think.

SAVELLA: 
Can you name any
Who had an interest in his death?

BERNARDO: 
Alas! 
I can name none who had not, and those most
Who most lament that such a deed is done;
My mother, and my sister, and myself. 70

SAVELLA: 
’Tis strange!  There were clear marks of violence. 
I found the old man’s body in the moonlight
Hanging beneath the window of his chamber,
Among the branches of a pine:  he could not
Have fallen there, for all his limbs lay heaped 75
And effortless; ’tis true there was no blood... 
Favour me, Sir; it much imports your house
That all should be made clear; to tell the ladies
That I request their presence.

[EXIT BERNARDO.]

[ENTER GUARDS, BRINGING IN MARZIO.]

GUARD: 
We have one.

OFFICER: 
My Lord, we found this ruffian and another 80
Lurking among the rocks; there is no doubt
But that they are the murderers of Count Cenci: 
Each had a bag of coin; this fellow wore
A gold-inwoven robe, which, shining bright
Under the dark rocks to the glimmering moon 85
Betrayed them to our notice:  the other fell
Desperately fighting.

SAVELLA: 
What does he confess?

OFFICER: 
He keeps firm silence; but these lines found on him
May speak.

SAVELLA:  Their language is at least sincere. [READS.] ’To the Lady Beatrice. 90 That the atonement of what my nature sickens to conjecture may soon arrive, I send thee, at thy brother’s desire, those who will speak and do more than I dare write...  ‘Thy devoted servant, Orsino.’ [ENTER LUCRETIA, BEATRICE, AND BERNARDO.] Knowest thou this writing, Lady?

BEATRICE: 
No.

SAVELLA: 
Nor thou? 95

LUCRETIA [HER CONDUCT THROUGHOUT THE SCENE IS MARKED BY EXTREME AGITATION]: 
Where was it found?  What is it?  It should be
Orsino’s hand!  It speaks of that strange horror
Which never yet found utterance, but which made
Between that hapless child and her dead father
A gulf of obscure hatred.