Timidly she crept from her lattice , put her hand on Roderigo 's shoulder , and was about to leap gracefully down when `` Alas ! Alas for Zara ! '' she forgot her train . It caught in the window , the tower tottered , leaned forward , fell with a crash , and buried the unhappy lovers in the ruins . A universal shriek arose as the russet boots waved wildly from the wreck and a golden head emerged , exclaiming , `` I told you so ! I told you so ! '' With wonderful presence of mind , Don Pedro , the cruel sire , rushed in , dragged out his daughter , with a hasty aside ... `` Do n't laugh ! Act as if it was all right ! '' and , ordering Roderigo up , banished him from the kingdom with wrath and scorn . Though decidedly shaken by the fall from the tower upon him , Roderigo defied the old gentleman and refused to stir . This dauntless example fired Zara . She also defied her sire , and he ordered them both to the deepest dungeons of the castle . A stout little retainer came in with chains and led them away , looking very much frightened and evidently forgetting the speech he ought to have made . Act third was the castle hall , and here Hagar appeared , having come to free the lovers and finish Hugo . She hears him coming and hides , sees him put the potions into two cups of wine and bid the timid little servant , `` Bear them to the captives in their cells , and tell them I shall come anon . '' The servant takes Hugo aside to tell him something , and Hagar changes the cups for two others which are harmless . Ferdinando , the ` minion ' , carries them away , and Hagar puts back the cup which holds the poison meant for Roderigo . Hugo , getting thirsty after a long warble , drinks it , loses his wits , and after a good deal of clutching and stamping , falls flat and dies , while Hagar informs him what she has done in a song of exquisite power and melody . This was a truly thrilling scene , though some persons might have thought that the sudden tumbling down of a quantity of long red hair rather marred the effect of the villain 's death . He was called before the curtain , and with great propriety appeared , leading Hagar , whose singing was considered more wonderful than all the rest of the performance put together .
Act fourth displayed the despairing Roderigo on the point of stabbing himself because he has been told that XXXXX has deserted him .
Bear Pedro Zara crash dungeons minion right sire third warble