to kill her, she asks his leave to see her little son; he permits her, and she goes out of the room, and Renato remains alone. His glance falls on a large portrait of the King hanging on the wall, and he swears to take revenge on him, certain that he is guiltier than Amelia.
By prior appointment Renato receives the conspirators Samuel and Tomasso, and makes clear to them that he will join them, without disclosing the reason, and promises to offer his son as a hostage in proof of his sincerity.
The two conspirators can do nothing but believe him, and the three decide to draw lots to determine who shall carry out the task of killing the King.
At that moment Amelia enters and announces that Oscar has been sent by the King, bearing an invitation to the ball. Renato asks his wife to draw a slip from the urn; she does — and behold, the slip bears Renato's name.
Oscar arrives, glad and merry, and presents the invitation to the masked ball to be held at the royal court that very night.
When Renato and his two companions learn that the King will be present, they decide to go. The curtain falls as they perfect
the plan by which they will recognize one another in their masquerade costumes.
Act Four
Scene One: a hall in the royal court.
It is the night of the ball, and the King has sat down alone at his desk, resolved to act honorably and put an end to his betrayal of his friend Renato. He signs a paper providing for the dispatch of Amelia and Renato on an official mission to England. It is a decision that falls heavily upon his heart, but there is no avoiding it. He sings a short, moving song that begins: "Life is over for me!"
Oscar enters carrying a letter from an unknown lady, in which
its sender (who is none other than Amelia) warns him against attending the ball, for a plot is being laid to assassinate him. He pays no heed to the warning, fearing that his absence would be taken for cowardice. The music swells, announcing the opening of the ball, while Riccardo prepares to attend it.
Scene Two: the vast ballroom.
The dancers, men and women, sway to the strains of the boisterous music, and the conspirators exchange brief whispers, having failed to recognize the King in his masquerade dress.
It happens that Oscar meets Renato, who tells him frankly that he has recognized him. Renato pulls off Oscar's mask and begins to question him about the whereabouts of his master the King. At first he refuses to disclose anything, but before long he describes the King's costume
to him, after Renato tells him that he has important matters to lay before the King.
Riccardo and Amelia meet at the other end of the stage, and she tries to turn him from his resolve and make him leave the ball to escape the plot. The King refuses to heed her words and bids her a warm farewell, repeating: "I love you, I love you." And while he is telling her that he had intended to send her to England in her husband's company, Renato springs forward and strikes him with his sword.
The dancing continues a few moments longer; then those present realize what has happened and fall upon Renato.
As for the King, breathing his last, he pardons Renato, as he pardons all the others who conspired against him, and delivers to Renato the decree dispatching him to England.