ACT I

SCENE--_A street in Blois in 1638. Some officers are sitting in the twilight outside a tavern, chatting, smoking, and drinking. They rise up to welcome the_ COMTE DE GASSE.

BRICHANTEAU: You come to Blois to join the regiment? We all condole with you. What is the news From Paris?

GASSE: The duel has come in again. Richelieu Is furious.

ROCHEBARON: That's no news. We duel here, To pass the time away.

GASSE: But have you heard Of the incredible, mysterious flight Of Marion de Lorme?

BRICHANTEAU: We have some news, Gasse, for you. Marion is here.

GASSE: At Blois? You jest! The Queen of Beauty? Marion In a place like this?

BRICHANTEAU: Saverny was attacked Last night by footpads. They were killing him, When a man beat them off, and took our friend Into a house.

GASSE: But Marion de Lorme?

BRICHANTEAU: It was her house. Saverny's rescuer Was the young man with whom she is in love.

ROCHEBARON: What is the man like?

BRICHANTEAU: Ask Saverny that.

THE TOWN CRIER (_arriving with a crowd_): "Ordinance. Louis, by the grace of God, King of France and Navarre, unto all men, To whom these presents come, greeting! We will, Ordain, and rule, henceforward, that all men, Nobles or commoners, who break the law By duelling, whether one survive or two, Shall be hanged by the neck till they are dead. Such is our good pleasure."

GASSE: Hang us like thieves.

[_Two officers of the town fix the edict to the wall, and the_ CRIER _and the crowd depart._ SAVERNY _enters. The street grows dark._

SAVERNY: Fair Marion de Lorme has left her house. I cannot find her.

GASSE: What was the man like?

SAVERNY: I do not know. On entering the house I recognised sweet Marion, and began To speak to her. Before I could turn round And thank the man to whom I owed my life, He knocked the candle over. I withdrew, Seeing I was not wanted. All I know Is that his name is Didier.

ROCHEBARON: It smacks Of vulgar origin. To think a man With such a name should carry Marion off-- Marion, the queen of beauty and of love!

SAVERNY: There may be men with greater names, but none With greater hearts. To leap from Marion's arms, And fight with footpads for a stranger's life! The thing's heroic! I owe Didier A debt that I would pay, if need there was, With all my blood. I wish he were my friend!

[L'ANGELY, _the King's jester--a mournful-looking creature--comes and sits with the officers. He is followed by a tall, pale, handsome young man. It is_ DIDIER.

DIDIER: The Marquis of Saverny! So the fop Called himself. Oh, the easy, impudent air With which he spoke to Marie! And I saved The creature's life. If I meet him again----

GASSE: Saverny!

DIDIER: Here's my man.

GASSE: Have you observed The edict against duelling, on pain Of hanging?

SAVERNY: Hanging? Hang a gentleman? You jest! That is a punishment for serfs.

BRICHANTEAU: Well, read the edict underneath the lamp.

SAVERNY (_annoyed at_ DIDIER _for staring at him_): Go, read it for me, pale face!

DIDIER: I?

SAVERNY: Yes, you.

DIDIER (_rising_): It is an ordinance that punishes By gibbeting all squabbling noblemen. Having done all you wanted, may I claim A slight reward? Will you now fight with me?

SAVERNY: Certainly. Where?

DIDIER: Here. Who will lend a sword?

L'ANGELY: For this wild folly, take a fool's sword, friend, And in exchange, bequeath to me, for luck, The bit of rope that hangs you.

DIDIER (_taking his sword_): Now, marquis!

SAVERNY: Sir, at your service.

DIDIER: Guard!

[_As their swords clash,_ MARION DE LORME _appears._

MARION (_seeing_ DIDIER _fighting_): Stop! Help! Help! Help!

[_In answer to her cries the town guard arrive._

THE CAPTAIN OF THE GUARD: Down with your swords! What! Duelling beneath The edict of the king! You are dead men.

[DIDIER _and_ SAVERNY _are disarmed and led away._

MARION: What has he done?

[L'ANGELY _points to the edict: she reads it._

Oh, when I called for help Death came! Is there no way to rescue him? The king is kind at heart, he will forgive----

L'ANGELY: But Richelieu will not! He loves red blood, The scarlet cardinal, he loves red blood!

MARION: You frighten me! Who are you?

L'ANGELY: The king's fool.

MARION: Ah, Didier! If a woman's feeble hand Can save you, mine shall do it! [_She departs_.

L'ANGELY (_picking up the sword he lent to_ Didier): Ha! Ha! Ha! It was not I that played the fool to-night!