,

        friend of Bertram

       .

       Soprano

        Irma

       ,

        attendant to Lucy

       Basso

        Friends, Retainers and Members of the local Lodge of Elks.

        Argument

       "Lucy de Lima," is founded on the well-known story by Boccaccio of the same name and address.

        [pg 085]

         Gypsy Camp Near Waterbury.

        —The gypsies, led by Edith, go singing through the camp on the way to the fair. Following them comes Despard, the gypsy leader, carrying Ethel, whom he has just kidnapped from her father, who had previously just kidnapped her from her mother. Despard places Ethel on the ground and tells Mona, the old hag, to watch over her. Mona nurses a secret grudge against Despard for having once cut off her leg and decides to change Ethel for Nettie, another kidnapped child. Ethel pleads with Mona to let her stay with Despard, for she has fallen in love with him on the ride over. But Mona is obdurate.

         The Fair.

        —A crowd of sightseers and villagers is present. Roger appears, looking for Laura. He can not find her. Laura appears, looking for Roger. She can not find him. The gypsy queen approaches Roger and thrusts into his hand the locket stolen from Lord Brym. Roger looks at it and is frozen with astonishment, for it contains the portrait of his mother when she was in high school. 

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