Chapter 132

_To these, CHARLES, who is seen on the gallery going to the door of Number Thirteen. Afterwards all the characters but the NOTARY and the MARQUIS._

BRIGADIER. One glass more. (_BERTRAND touches MACAIRE, and points to CHARLES, who enters Number Thirteen._)

MACAIRE. No more, no more, no more.

BRIGADIER (_rising and taking MACAIRE by the arm_). I stipulate.

MACAIRE. Engagement in Turin!

BRIGADIER. Turin?

MACAIRE. Lyons, Lyons!

BERTRAND. For God's sake ...

BRIGADIER. Well, good-bye!

MACAIRE. Good-bye, good----

CHARLES (_from within_). Murder! Help! (_Appearing._) Help here! The Marquis is murdered.

BRIGADIER. Stand to the door. A man up there. (_A GENDARME hurries up staircase into Number Thirteen, CHARLES following him. Enter on both sides of gallery the remaining characters of the piece, except the NOTARY and the MARQUIS._)

MACAIRE. Bitten, by God! \ > _Aside._ BERTRAND. Lost! /

BRIGADIER (_to DUMONT_). John Paul Dumont, I arrest you.

DUMONT. Do your duty, officer. I can answer for myself and my own people.

BRIGADIER. Yes, but these strangers?

DUMONT. They are strangers to me.

MACAIRE. I am an honest man: I stand upon my rights: search me; or search this person, of whom I know too little. (_Smiting his brow._) By heaven, I see it all! This morning----(_To BERTRAND._) How, sir, did you dare to flaunt your booty in my very face? (_To BRIGADIER._) He showed me notes; he was up ere day; search him, and you'll find. There stands the murderer.

BERTRAND. O, Macaire! (_He is seized and searched and the notes are found._)

BRIGADIER. There is blood upon the notes. Handcuffs. (_MACAIRE edging towards the door._)

BERTRAND. Macaire, you may as well take the bundle. (_MACAIRE is stopped by sentry, and comes front, R._)

CHARLES (_re-appearing_). Stop, I know the truth. (_He comes down._) Brigadier, my father is not dead. He is not even dangerously hurt. He has spoken. There is the would-be assassin.

MACAIRE. Hell! (_He darts across to the staircase, and turns on the second step, flashing out the knife._) Back, hounds! (_He springs up the stair, and confronts them from the top._) Fools, I am Robert Macaire! (_As MACAIRE turns to flee, he is met by the Gendarme coming out of Number Thirteen; he stands an instant checked, is shot from the stage, and falls headlong backward down the stair. BERTRAND, with a cry, breaks from the Gendarmes, kneels at his side, and raises his head._)

BERTRAND. Macaire, Macaire, forgive me. I didn't blab; you know I didn't blab.

MACAIRE. Sold again, old boy. Sold for the last time; at least, the last time this side death. Death----what is death? (_He dies._)

CURTAIN

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