ACT IV.

SCENE. _Same as Act III_.--DUKE _discovered seated in attitude of despair_.--GOUROC _standing near mantel_.--LA ROCHEJACQUELEIN _enters sadly_.

DUKE.

[_Rising anxiously_.]

What news?

LA ROCHE.

None.

[_The_ DUKE _sinks back into chair_.

GOUROC.

Then she has positively escaped?

LA ROCHE.

While we stood dazed with horror at her words--she vanished. Our soldiers have searched, but can find no trace of her.

DUKE.

[_Starting up_.]

I will find her!

LA ROCHE.

[_Barring his way_.]

This is madness.

DUKE.

Let me pass!

LA ROCHE.

Hear me!

DUKE.

While I listen, she is lost!--An army shall not stop me.

[_Breaks from him towards door_.

DENISE.

[_Entering joyfully_.]

She is found!

ALL.

Found?

DENISE.

Yes. Jean tracked her,--they are bringing her here.

JEAN.

[_Entering_.]

General, I have not failed.

LA ROCHE.

[_Grasping his hand_.]

You never do.

LA HOGUE _enters first, followed by two_ GUARDS, _whom he directs to the entrance at top of steps_.--DIANE _enters, followed by two_ GUARDS.

DIANE.

[_To_ LA ROCHEJACQUELEIN.]

By what authority, Monsieur, am I arrested?

DUKE.

By mine. I am your father.

DIANE.

My marriage has set me free of parental rule. I claim the right to fly from those who have defamed my noble husband. General, command your soldiers to release me!

GOUROC.

No!--You shall not go.

DIANE.

What will prevent me?

GOUROC.

The force of your own honour.

DIANE.

Honour commands me to return to my husband's friends.

GOUROC.

Honour commands you to keep your word with me.

[DIANE _starts and turns away_.]

You promised, if I saved your father, and you were free, you'd be my wife.--I have done my part, you must do yours.

DIANE.

[_Passionately, to_ GOUROC.]

Now I understand your joy when you read of the beheadal of the man who took my father's place!--You knew he was my husband.

GOUROC.

I did.

DIANE.

You planned his death to free and force me to this marriage.

GOUROC.

I did not learn that you were his wife till he was going to the guillotine.--Then he told me all, confiding you to my care. I promised him I'd shield you from all peril.--I but keep my word with him, in asking you to keep your word with me.

DIANE.

So you would wed the widow of a Sans Culotte?

GOUROC.

Your husband was my friend; I knew and honoured him.

DIANE.

Ah, you believe, then, that Potin lied when he declared he got the warrant for the Duke's arrest from Paul Kauvar?

GOUROC.

I now believe that your husband was the victim of a trick.

DIANE.

Then swear--before those who have heard the dead defamed--swear that you believe my husband was innocent of infamy.

GOUROC.

[_With deep sincerity_.]

As I hope for mercy from my God, I believe that Paul Kauvar was guiltless of dishonour.

DIANE.

[_Impressed with his sincerity_.]

Then his widow swears to keep her word with you.

[_She extends her hand to_ GOUROC.

LA HOGUE _crosses, up steps, to_ GUARDS, _and directs them silently to exit.--They about-face, and go out_.

GOUROC.

[_Aside, triumphantly kissing_ DIANE'S _hand_.]

At last!

[_Howls of execration outside_.]

What is that?

LA ROCHE.

The mob howling at some captured rebels.

[_Enter_ ORDERLY, _who presents paper_.]

[_Reading paper_, LA ROCHEJACQUELEIN _speaks to_ ORDERLY.]

Conduct the prisoner here.

[_Exit_ ORDERLY.]

[_Turning to_ DIANE.]

Cousin, I must ask you to retire. We have secret business to transact.

DUKE.

[_Giving_ DIANE _his arm_.]

We will await you in my daughter's room.

[_To_ GOUROC.]

Marquis, we can complete the plans for your marriage and escape to England.

[_Exeunt_ DIANE, DUKE, JEAN, DENISE _and_ GOUROC.

GOUROC.

[_Aside, as he goes out_.]

Now I know that I shall triumph!

LA ROCHE.

[_To_ LA HOGUE.]

When and where were these prisoners secured?

LA HOGUE.

At dawn this morning, in the centre of the Faubourg. They fought like fiends! Their leader is a veritable lion.--Though overcome by numbers, he don't seem conquered in the least!--Hang my hide! I cannot help but like him!

[_Howls renewed outside_.

ORDERLY.

[_Entering_.]

The prisoner is here, General.

LA ROCHE.

Bring him in.

[ORDERLY _beckons.--Yells outside_. GUARDS _enter and form on terrace behind entrance.--Enter_ PRISONER, _who strides haughtily in_.]

[_To_ ORDERLY.]

Retire and guard the doors.

[ORDERLY _right-faces_.--GUARD _goes of with_ ORDERLY.]

[_Politely to_ PRISONER.]

I see, sir, you're an officer.

PRISONER.

Yes.--Captain of Volunteers in the ranks of the Republic.

LA ROCHE.

To what corps do you belong?

PRISONER.

Kleber's--who waits upon the banks of the river to cut off your retreat.

LA ROCHE.

[_Smiling_.]

We do not propose to retreat, but to advance.

PRISONER.

Before another day you will be driven, routed, into the heart of Vendée.

LA ROCHE.

If boasting wins, your side will doubtless better ours.

PRISONER.

If blows win--your side is sure to fail. You've not a regiment that's trained better than a pack of boys!

LA HOGUE.

I wish he were a liar, but he isn't.

LA ROCHE.

Our boys struck hard enough, it seems, to capture you.

PRISONER.

We were ten, surprised by a battalion, and yet it cost you nearly fifty of your friends to take but ten of us.

LA HOGUE.

There he goes again riddling us with facts.

LA ROCHE.

Sir,--you know there is no quarter given to traitors found in arms against the King.

PRISONER.

France has no sovereign but the people.--It is you who are the traitors.

LA ROCHE.

Answer civilly and I may show you mercy.

PRISONER.

I neither ask, nor accept mercy. I have done my best to deal a crushing blow to you.--So call your guards, and shoot me without more waste of words.

LA ROCHE.

I see that you are brave.

PRISONER.

Brave? Because I'm not afraid to die?

[_Laughs bitterly_.]

Bah! It takes more courage sometimes to consent to live.

LA ROCHE.

You are young, a Frenchman, and--though misled--a credit to your country. If you'll give me some excuse, I swear I'd rather spare your life.

PRISONER.

[_Laughing_.]

Thank you, General; but frankly, I'd rather give you some excuse to take it.

_Tremendous explosion heard in the distance. Then a second explosion. The Faubourg in middle ground is blown up and is seen to burn into a blaze_.

LA ROCHE.

My God!--See!--The Faubourg!

PRISONER.

[_Triumphantly_.]

Blown up and burning!--In an hour the houses that were to shelter your attack on our defenses will be gone, and you will have to fight our forces in the open field.--That means defeat for you.

LA HOGUE.

Sacristi! Gag this rogue, or we'll be whipped before we fight.

LA ROCHEJACQUELEIN _writes hastily, and strikes a bell. Enter GOUROC, who starts and goes out again with a gesture of menace towards the_ PRISONER. _Enter_ ORDERLY.

LA ROCHE.

[_To_ ORDERLY.]

Despatch these orders instantly, and send a guard with loaded muskets here at once.

[_Exit_ ORDERLY.]

[_Turning despondently to_ LA HOGUE.]

I fear this is a death-blow to our plans to-night.

PRISONER.

A death-blow dealt by me!--You'd better kill me quickly before I do more damage.

LA ROCHE.

You are right, sir; I should be faithless to my King if I showed you mercy now.

PRISONER.

Bravo! Mercy to enemies is as base as cruelty to friends.

LA HOGUE.

Damn me! There's no fun in killing such a fool--he seems to like it!

[_Enter_ ORDERLY _with_ GUARDS.

LA ROCHE.

[_To_ ORDERLY.]

Take the prisoner outside and shoot him there at once.

[GUARD _crosses to_ PRISONER.]

Have you any last request?

PRISONER.

But one.--You have shown me the kindness of an honest-hearted man. War has made us enemies, but, in the presence of the peace of death, I would like to feel that as Frenchmen we are friends, and ask one parting grasp from you.

LA ROCHE.

[_Grasps his hand_.]

With all my heart!--May we meet like this above.

LA HOGUE.

[_With emotion_.]

Curse these youngsters, they make me snivel like a fool.

[_He blows his nose furiously.

The_ PRISONER _bows, takes his place in the platoon of_ GUARDS, _who begin to march off. When they are on the terrace_, LA HOGUE _suddenly cries out_.

LA HOGUE.

Halt!--

[ORDERLY _about-faces and waits for orders_.]

You have not given us your name.

PRISONER.

I prefer to let it die with me.

LA HOGUE.

Hang it, sir! Courage is glorious even in a rebel rascal like yourself.

LA ROCHE.

Some friend may be glad to know how fearlessly you met your fate.

PRISONER.

The only ears I'd care to reach would rather never hear my name again.

LA HOGUE.

But curse your stubbornness! I want to know your name myself. Can't you be civil as well as brave?

PRISONER.

[_Laughing_.]

Well, then, to please your gentle highness, I must give it. I am Captain on the Staff of General Kleber--Captain Kauvar.

LA ROCHE _and_ LA HOGUE.

[_Starting_.]

Kauvar?

PAUL.

Yes--Captain Paul Kauvar.

LA ROCHE.

[_Turning amazed to_ LA HOGUE.]

What do you think of this?

LA HOGUE.

That if I had a regiment of Paul Kauvar's, I'd conquer Europe.

LA ROCHE.

My cousin's husband was guillotined. There's some mistake.

[_To_ GUARD.]

Leave the prisoner, and wait outside for orders.

PAUL.

[_Stopping the_ GUARD.]

Stay!--

[ORDERLY _waits for further orders_.]

[_To_ LA ROCHEJACQUELEIN.]

General, I beg of you to spare me further waiting.--Make an end of this.

LA ROCHE.

When I have questioned you again.

PAUL.

I shall refuse to answer further questions.

LA ROCHE.

I may find a way to break your silence.

PAUL.

I swear you cannot do it.

LA ROCHE.

[_Motions_ GUARDS _to go_.]

[ORDERLY _about-faces, goes on to terrace_. GUARDS _then march off_.]

We shall see! You've given a name that's not your own.

[PAUL _starts, but remains silent_.]

Paul Kauvar was guillotined the night of the ninth of May.

[PAUL _turns, amazed but silent_.]

He died to save my kinsman, the Duc de Beaumont.

[PAUL, _about to speak, checks himself_.]

He was the husband of my cousin.

PAUL.

[_Exploding_.]

Diane--your cousin?

LA ROCHE.

Ha! I thought I'd make you speak.

PAUL.

[_Eagerly_.]

You know her?--She has escaped?--Is safe?--alive?--happy?

LA ROCHE.

Oh, ho!--So you would turn the tables--question me?

PAUL.

Is she alive and well?--I ask to know but this.

LA ROCHE.

I'll tell you more, if you will answer first my questions.

PAUL.

All!--that do not force me to betray my cause.

LA ROCHE.

Explain!--You escaped the guillotine?

PAUL.

The story is too long.

LA ROCHE.

Make it brief, but answer.

PAUL.

In the death-cart I found a priest confessing those about him. He questioned me, soon saw that I was not the Duke. "My child," he said, "I die to-day, but as a priest shall be the last to mount the scaffold.--Let me take your place, assume the same disguise, while you slip from the cart and live." At first I refused, as I no longer cared for life! But when he said Diane might not escape unless I lived to aid her, I yielded.--The night was cloudy. When the moon was hidden, the priest put on my coat and wig, and as the death-cart neared the scaffold, I slipped through its slatted floor, and in the darkness mingled with the crowd.

LA ROCHE.

Who was the holy man who set you free?

PAUL.

The Abbé de St. Simon.

LA ROCHE.

Strange! We heard the Abbé had escaped.

PAUL.

He answered when the Duke was called and so was guillotined; but when the Abbé's turn had come, they could not find him, and so gave out that he'd escaped.

LA ROCHE.

Yes, I understand it now.--Proceed!

PAUL.

I found Diane had gone, believing I was guilty of a most ignoble crime. Too sick at heart to follow her, I enlisted and, seeking death, obtained promotion to my present grade.

LA ROCHE.

What if your willingness to die to save her father had convinced Diane that you were innocent, and had taught her a deeper love for you?

PAUL.

Ah! Then life would be worth living once again!--Can you have heard from her--seen her?

LA ROCHE.

You can see her for yourself--save your own life--and bring boundless joy to hers.

PAUL.

How?

LA ROCHE.

Espouse our cause!

PAUL.

What!--Betray my country?

LA ROCHE.

No.--Redeem your country!--Desert the side of those who bring disgrace upon your native land--of fiends, who drown her soil in blood!--blood bred from the noblest heroes of her history.

PAUL.

Heroes who debauched our women, and enslaved our men!--Libertines who let harlots reign in France! Despots whose arrogant descendants are crushed to-day beneath their fathers' sins!

LA ROCHE.

What, sir! You, a soldier, justify these Jacobins--anarchists like Carrac, who slaughter hundreds of defenceless women every day, and even outrage little children?

PAUL.

Anarchists are monsters your race bred when it brutalized their mothers.

LA ROCHE.

Enough, sir! I see that I must leave you to your fate.

PAUL.

But Diane, my wife! Give me one word of her.

LA ROCHE.

Yes. You shall know that she believes you innocent, is sick with grief and desolation in thinking you are dead.

PAUL.

You have seen her, then?

LA ROCHE.

Yes--here, within an hour.

PAUL.

She is here now, within call--?

[LA ROCHEJACQUELEIN _makes sign of assent_. PAUL _kneels at his feet_.]

My God! In pity's name, let me see her once again.

LA ROCHE.

And so re-open the old wounds?--re-awaken hope, but to deepen her despair?

PAUL.

[_Rising slowly_.]

No, no! You're right. I will not purchase joy at the cost of pain to her!--Call your guards. I die happy, knowing she'll remember me with love.

LA ROCHE.

For her sake renounce rebellion, and I unite you both forever.

PAUL.

Better I should never see her face again than be unworthy of her love.

LA HOGUE.

Great Cæsar! Here's an eagle facing death in loyalty to carrion crows!--The noble bird is mad! We must not kill, but cure him.

LA ROCHE.

What do you propose?

LA HOGUE.

Put him on parole. Let him give his word that he'll not fight until he's exchanged.

LA ROCHE.

True! Captain Kauvar, you are a prisoner of war, a man of proven honour.--Give me your word that you will not lift your sword against the King, till you're exchanged, and you're paroled and free.

PAUL.

Free with honour, to see my wife once more?

LA ROCHE.

Yes!

PAUL.

Oh, generous foe! Next to my country, my life belongs to you.

LA ROCHE.

I have your word?

PAUL.

[_Raising his hand_.]

You have.

LA ROCHE.

Captain Kauvar, you are paroled.

PAUL.

And my wife?

LA ROCHE.

[_Going_.]

Shall come to you at once.

[_Exit_.

PAUL.

Great heavens!--I'm going mad with joy!

[_Turning to_ LA HOGUE.]

Colonel, I must explode or die!

[_He embraces_ LA HOGUE.

LA HOGUE.

[_Submitting with gusto_.]

Damme! Embraced by a Sans Culotte! I like it, too!

_Artillery is heard in the distance_.

PAUL.

[_Looking off_.]

By heavens!--The Republicans are sweeping down from Granville!

[_To_ LA HOGUE.]

Colonel, see! My comrades have attacked you under cover of the town I burned.

[_Crash of artillery again_.

LA HOGUE.

Damnation!

_Enter_ LA ROCHEJACQUELEIN.

ORDERLY.

[_Rushing in_.]

General, the enemy are upon us!

LA ROCHE.

[_Excitedly to_ LA HOGUE.]

Quick!--To arms!--We must rouse and lead our men!

PAUL.

But Diane--my wife?

LA ROCHE.

Gone!--to England.

[_Handing a paper_.]

Read, and remember, whatever be my fate, you are on parole.

[_He rushes off with_ LA HOGUE.

_The crash of firearms increases_.

PAUL.

[_Reading_.]

"Dear Henri:--The town is burning, my daughter in peril. I see Diane embarked for England, and join you on the field.--Duc de Beaumont."--Gone!--No! I will find her, and fly with her myself.

[_Noise of battle outside_.--PAUL _is about to go, but stops_.]

No, no! My God!--She's lost to me again! I cannot go to seek her, for I'm a prisoner on parole!

[_He falls prostrate on the stairs_.

CURTAIN.