ACT III

SCENE--_A field by the castle of Beaugenoy. A great gap has been made in the outer wall, through which looms the castle-keep. Two workmen are covering the gap with a vast black cloth._

A WORKMAN: If they would hang the two young gentlemen Outside the wall, the cardinal could see The execution without breaking down The ramparts in this way.

HIS MATE: Could he not come Through the great gate?

A WORKMAN: What! In a litter borne By four-and twenty men? No! Richelieu Travels in greater state than any king. He enters, like a conqueror, through the breach Made in the castles of our noblemen. He means to kill them all, they say.

HIS MATE: And now He comes in his great litter through this wall, To see these poor boys hanged? What cruelty!

A WORKMAN: Now come and see the gallows we have built.

[_As they depart,_ MARION _arrives at the castle gate. She knocks, but before the door opens,_ LAFFEMAS, RICHELIEU'S _agent, gallops up._

MARION: An order from the king.

THE GATEKEEPER: You cannot pass.

LAFFEMAS: An order from the cardinal.

THE GATEKEEPER: Pass in.

MARION: I have a pardon for two prisoners!

LAFFEMAS: And I the document revoking it! The cardinal is coming here to-night To see the execution. It is fixed For nine o'clock.

MARION: Then there is no more hope! Oh, God! Oh, God! My Didier must die! Nothing can save him!

LAFFEMAS: You can, Marion. Yes, you can still! I will let Didier escape If, Marion, you will----

MARION: No!

LAFFEMAS: Then he dies!

MARION: And if he lives, I lose him. (_A long silence._) He shall live.

[_She goes into the castle with_ LAFFEMAS. DIDIER _and_ SAVERNY _appear, guarded by the jailer and his men. It is now night._

THE JAILER (_in a whisper to_ SAVERNY): You can escape. The Marquis of Nangis Has made all preparations for the flight.

SAVERNY: For both of us?

THE JAILER: No; only you. And that May cost me my own life.

SAVERNY: Well, save my friend.

THE JAILER: I cannot.

SAVERNY: Then I must remain with him. (_To_ DIDIER) They will hang us, friend, to-night.

* * * * *

DIDIER: Are you sure, Saverny, she is Marion de Lorme? On your honour, are you sure?

SAVERNY: Yes, I am. I cannot understand you, Didier. Are you not proud to think that you have made So great a conquest?

DIDIER: And I thought she was As innocent as she was beautiful!

SAVERNY: She loves you. You should be content with that. You will not die while Marion de Lorme Lives. And I hope that she will not forget I am your friend, but come and save me, too.

[_It grows darker_ SAVERNY _falls asleep._ MARION _comes out of the gate carrying a bundle, and accompanied by_ DIDIER.

MARION: Put on these clothes. Richelieu has arrived; Can you not hear the guns announcing him?

DIDIER: Raise your eyes! Raise your eyes, and look at me! What sort of man, think you, am I? A fool, Or libertine?

MARION (_trembling, as she fixes her eyes passionately on his_): I love you Didier, More than my life. Your eyes are terrible. What have I done? Am I not your Marie?

DIDIER: Marie? Or Marion de Lorme?

MARION: Didier, Forgive me! I--I--meant to tell you all. I feared to lose you if you learnt my name. You had redeemed me by your love. I longed To raise all memories of my former self, And live a new life with you, Didier. For, oh, I love you, and I love you still, Deeply and truly! Didier, be kind, Or you will kill me!

DIDIER: How have you obtained This favour for me? Why is Laffemas Risking his neck by letting me escape?

MARION: Not now! I cannot tell you now! Fly! Fly! Hark, they are coming! Do not stop to speak. Save yourself!

DIDIER: No; I have no wish to live! Thank God, here is the headsman!

[_A_ HEADSMAN, _carrying his axe, appears with a crowd of soldiers, officials, and_ SAVERNY.

MARION (_falling to the earth_): Didier!

SAVERNY: What a shame To rob me of my sleep!

THE HEADSMAN (_grimly_): The time has come To put you both to bed.

SAVERNY (_gaily_): A headsman! Good! I like the axe much better than the rope.

DIDIER (_embracing him_): Good-bye, my friend!

MARION (_clinging to him_): And me! Didier, me! Will you not say good-bye to me?

DIDIER (_wildly, as the soldiers drag him off_): No! No! My heart is breaking! Oh, Marie, Marie! I love you. I was wrong!

MARION: You pardon me?

DIDIER: I ask your pardon. Think of me sometimes. Good-bye, my darling. [_He is dragged behind the wall._

AN OFFICIAL (_catching_ MARION _in his arms as she falls_): All hope is not lost. Look, here is Richelieu! Go and plead with him.

[_The castle guns are fired. The cloth, hiding the great breach in the wall, drops. The_ CARDINAL _comes in his gigantic scarlet litter, borne by twenty-four footguards. Scarlet curtains conceal him from the shouting mob._

MARION (_dragging herself on her knees to the litter_): In the name of God, oh, my Lord Cardinal, Pardon these two poor boys!

A VOICE (_from the litter_): No pardon!

[_The litter passes on, and the crowd surges through the wall after it_. MARION _is left alone._

FOOTNOTES:

[J] Victor Hugo wrote "Marion de Lorme" in 1829, three months before he composed "Hernani." King Charles X., however, refused to license the play, because of the terrible way in which his ancestor, Louis XIII., was portrayed in it. But after the Revolution of 1830, and the success of "Hernani," the forbidden drama was produced on the stage. Its original title was "A Duel Under Richelieu." The whole play is built around the frustrated duel in which two young men engage against the edict of the great cardinal. This economy of stage-craft makes "Marion de Lorme" a superior work, in point of construction, to "Hernani." And though it may be less picturesque than that more famous example of the romantic drama, it is on the whole a finer effort of genius.

Ruy Blas[K]

_Persons in the Drama_

DON SALLUST DE BAZAN, _President of the Magistrates_ RUY BLAS, _Lackey to Don Sallust_ DON CESAR DE BAZAN, _Cousin to Don Sallust_ DON MANUEL ARIAS }_Counsellors_ THE COUNT OF CAMPOREAL } DOOÑA MARIA, Queen of Spain _A crowd of_ Spanish Grandees, Counsellors, _and_ Alguazils