ACT II
THE ENCOUNTER
Scene.—Blois. The door of a public-house. A square. In the background the city of Blois is visible in the form of an amphitheater, also the towers of St. Nicholas upon the hill, which is covered with houses
SCENE I
Count de Gassé, Marquis de Brichanteau, Viscount de Bouchavannes, Chevalier de Rochebaron. They are seated at tables in front of the door: some are smoking, the others are throwing dice and drinking. Afterward Chevalier de Montpesat, Count de Villac; afterward L'Angely; afterward The Town-Crier and The Populace
BRICHANTEAU (rising, to Gassé, who enters).
Gassé! [They shake hands.
You are come to join
The regiment at Blois: our compliments
Upon your burial. [Examining his clothes.
Ah!
GASSÉ.
It is the style—
This orange with blue ribbons.
[Folding his arms and curling his mustache.
BRICHANTEAU.
Yes,
It's China!
GASSÉ.
That makes womankind rebel:
To follow us they must exile themselves.
BOUCHAVANNES (turning from the game).
You come from Paris?
ROCHEBARON (taking out his pipe).
Is there any news?
GASSÉ (bowing).
No, nothing. Corneille still upsets all heads.
Guiche has obtained the order; Ast is duke.
Of trifles, plenty—thirty Huguenots
Were hung; a quantity of duels. On
The third, D'Angennes fought Arquien on account
Of wearing point of Genoa; the tenth,
Lavardie had a rendezvous with Pons,
Because he'd taken Sourdis' wife from him.
Sourdis and D'Ailly met about a creature
In the theater Mondori. On the ninth,
Lachâtre fought with Nogent because he wrote
Three rhymes of Colletet's badly; Margaillan
With Gorde, about the time of day; D'Humière
With Gondi on the way to walk in church;
And all the Brissacs 'gainst all the Soubises
For some bet on a horse against a dog.
Then Caussade and Latournelle fought for nothing—
Merely for fun: Caussade killed Latournelle.
BRICHANTEAU.
Gay Paris! Duels have begun again.
GASSÉ.
It is the fashion!
BRICHANTEAU.
Feasts and love and fighting!
There is the only place to live!
[Yawning.] All one
Can do here is to die of weariness.
[To Gassé.] You say Caussade killed Latournelle?
GASSÉ.
He did,
With a good gash!
[Examining Rochebaron's sleeves.
BRICHANTEAU.
Pray repeat
The list of duels. How about the King?
What does he say?
GASSÉ.
The Cardinal's enraged
And means to stop it.
BOUCHAVANNES.
Any news from camp?
GASSÉ.
I think we captured Figuère by surprise—
Or else we lost it.
[Reflecting.] Yes, that's it. 'Tis lost!
They took it from us.
ROCHEBARON.
Ah! What said the King?
GASSÉ.
The Cardinal is most dissatisfied.
BRICHANTEAU.
How is the Court? I hope the King is well.
GASSÉ.
Alas! the Cardinal has fever and
The gout, and goes out only in a litter.
BRICHANTEAU.
Queer! We talk King, you answer Cardinal!
GASSÉ.
It is the fashion!
BOUCHAVANNES.
So there's nothing new!
GASSÉ.
Did I say so? There's been a miracle,
A prodigy, which has amazed all Paris
For two months past; the flight, the disappearance—
BRICHANTEAU.
Go on! Of whom?
GASSÉ.
Of Marion de Lorme,
The fairest of the fair!
BRICHANTEAU (with an air of mystery).
Here's news for you.
She's here!
GASSÉ.
At Blois?
BRICHANTEAU.
Incognito!
GASSÉ.
What! she?
In this place? Oh, you must be jesting, sir!
Fair Marion, who sets the fashions! Bah!
This Blois is the antipodes of Paris.
Observe! How ugly, old, ungainly, 'tis!
Even those towers—
[Indicating the towers of St. Nicholas.
ROCHEBARON.
That's true.
BRICHANTEAU.
Won't you believe Saverny when
He says he saw her, hidden somewhere with
A lover, and this lover saved his life
When thieves attacked him in the street at night?—
Good thieves, who took his purse for charity,
And just desired his watch to know the time.
GASSÉ.
You tell me wonders!
ROCHEBARON (to Brichanteau).
Are you sure of it?
BRICHANTEAU.
As sure as that I have six silver bezants
Upon a field of azure. Saverny
Has no desire, at present, but to find
This man.
BOUCHAVANNES.
He ought to find him at her house.
BRICHANTEAU.
She's changed her name and lodging, and all trace
Of her is lost.
[Marion and Didier cross the back of the stage slowly without being noticed by the talkers; they enter a small door in one of the houses on the side.
GASSÉ.
To have to come to Blois
To find our Marion, a provincial!
[Enter Count de Villac and Chevalier de Montpesat, disputing loudly.
VILLAC.
No!
I tell you no!
MONTPESAT.
And I—I tell you, yes!
VILLAC.
Corneille is bad!
MONTPESAT.
To treat Corneille like that—
The author of "The Cid" and of "Melite."
VILLAC.
"Melite"? Well, I will grant you that is good;
But he degenerated after that,
As they all do. I'll do the best I can
To satisfy you: talk about "Melite,"
"The Gallery of the Palace," but "The Cid!"
What is it, pray?
GASSÉ (to Montpesat).
You are conservative.
MONTPESAT.
"The Cid" is good!
VILLAC.
I tell you it is bad!
Your "Cid"—why Scudéry can crush it with
A touch! Look at the style! It deals with things
Extraordinary; has a vulgar tone;
Describes things plainly by their common names;
Besides, it is obscene, against the law!
"The Cid" has not the right to wed Chimène!
Now have you read Pyramus, Bradamante?
When Corneille writes such tragedies, I'll read!
ROCHEBARON (to Montpesat).
"The Great and Last Soliman" of Mairet,
You must read that: that is fine tragedy!
But for your "Cid."
VILLAC.
What self-conceit he has!
Does he not think he equals Boisrobert,
Mairet, Gombault, Serisay, Chapelain,
Bautru, Desmarets, Malleville, Faret,
Cherisy, Gomberville, Colletet, Giry,
Duryer—indeed, all the Academy?
BRICHANTEAU (laughing compassionately and shrugging his shoulders).
Good!
VILLAC.
Then the gentleman deigns to create!
Create! Faith! after Garnier, Theophile,
And Hardy! Oh, the coxcomb! To create!
An easy thing! As if the famous minds
Had left behind them any unused thing.
On that point Chapelain rebukes him well!
ROCHEBARON.
Corneille's a peasant!
BOUCHAVANNES.
Yet, Monsieur Godeau,
Bishop of Grasse, says he's a man of wit.
MONTPESAT.
Much wit!
VILLAC.
If he would write some other way—
Would follow Aristotle and good style.
GASSÉ.
Come, gentlemen, make peace. One thing is sure,
Corneille is now the fashion: takes the place
Of Garnier, just as in our day felt hats
Have replaced velvet mortiers.
MONTPESAT.
For Corneille
I am, and for felt hats!
GASSÉ (to Montpesat).
You are too rash!
[To Villac.] Garnier is very fine. I'm neutral; but
Corneille has also his good points.
VILLAC.
Agreed!
ROCHEBARON.
Agreed! He is a witty fellow and
I like him!
BRICHANTEAU.
He has no nobility!
ROCHEBARON.
A name so commonplace offends the ear.
BOUCHAVANNES.
A family of petty lawyers, who
Have gnawed at ducats 'til they obtained sous.
[L'Angely enters, seats himself at a table alone, and in silence. He is dressed in black velvet with gold trimming.
VILLAC.
Well, if the public like his rhapsodies
The day of tragic-comedy is past.
I swear to you the theater is doomed.
It is because this Richelieu—
GASSÉ (looking across at L'Angely).
Say, lordship,
Or else speak lower.
BRICHANTEAU.
Hell take this eminence!
Is't not enough to manage everything?
To rule our soldiers, finances, and us,
Without controlling our poor language too?
BOUCHAVANNES.
Down with this Richelieu, who flatters, kills:
Man of the red hand and the scarlet robe!
ROCHEBARON.
Of what use is the King?
BRICHANTEAU.
In darkness, we—
That is the people—march: eyes on a torch.
He is the torch: the King's the lantern which
In its bright glass protects the flame from wind.
BOUCHAVANNES.
Oh, could our swords blow such a wind some day
As to extinguish this devouring fire!
ROCHEBARON.
If every one had the same mind as I!
BRICHANTEAU.
We would unite—
[To Bouchavannes.] What do you think, Viscount?
BOUCHAVANNES.
We'd give him one perfidious, useful blow!
L'ANGELY (rising, with gloomy tone).
Conspiring! Young men! Think of Marillac!
[All shudder: turn away, and are silent with terror; all fix their eyes on L'Angely, who silently resumes his seat.
VILLAC (taking Montpesat aside).
My lord, when we were talking of Corneille,
You spoke in tones that irritated me.
In my turn I would like to say two words
To you—
MONTPESAT.
With sword—
VILLAC.
Yes.
MONTPESAT.
Or with pistol?
VILLAC.
Both!
MONTPESAT (taking his arm).
Let's go and find some corner in the town.
L'ANGELY (rising).
A duel, sirs? Remember Boutteville.
[New consternation among the young men. Villac and Montpesat separate, keeping their eyes fixed on L'Angely.
ROCHEBARON.
Who is this man in black who frightens us?
L'ANGELY.
I'm L'Angely. I'm jester to the King.
BRICHANTEAU (laughing).
Then it's no wonder that the King is sad.
BOUCHAVANNES (laughing).
Great fun he makes, this rabid cardinalist!
L'ANGELY (standing).
Be careful, gentlemen! This minister
Is mighty. A great mower, he! He makes
Great seas of blood, and then he covers them
With his red cloak and nothing more is said. [Silence.
GASSÉ.
Good faith!
ROCHEBARON.
I'm blessed if I shall stir!
BRICHANTEAU.
Beside
This jester Pluto was a funny man!
[A crowd of people enter from the streets and houses, and spread over the Square. In the center appears The Town-Crier on horseback, with four Town-servants in livery, one of whom blows the trumpet, while the other beats the drum.
GASSÉ.
What are these people doing? Ah, the crier!
Well, paternosters are in order now!
BRICHANTEAU (to a juggler with a monkey on his back, who has joined the crowd).
Which one of you shows off the other, friend?
MONTPESAT (to Rochebaron).
I hope our packs of cards are still complete.
[Indicating the four Servants in livery.
TOWN-CRIER (in a nasal tone of voice).
Peace, citizens!
BRICHANTEAU (low to Gassé).
He has a wicked look.
His voice wears out his nose more than his mouth!
TOWN-CRIER.
"Ordinance: Louis, by the Grace of God—"
BOUCHAVANNES (low to Brichanteau).
Cloak fleur-de-lis concealing Richelieu!
L'ANGELY.
Attention!
TOWN-CRIER (continuing).
"King of France and of Navarre—"
BRICHANTEAU (low to Bouchavannes).
A fine name, which no minister e'er hoards.
TOWN-CRIER (continuing).
"Know all men by these presents, we greet you!
[He salutes assembly.
[Indignation among the nobles.
BRICHANTEAU.
What's this?
We are to hang up like Barabbas!
BOUCHAVANNES.
We?
Tell me the name of any place which holds
A rope by which to hang a nobleman!
TOWN-CRIER (continuing).
"We, provost, that all men may know these facts,
Command this edict to be hung up on
The Square."
[The two Servants attach a great placard to an iron gallows protruding from the wall on the right.
GASSÉ.
'Tis the edict they ought to hang!
Well done!
BOUCHAVANNES (shaking his head).
Yes, Count; while waiting for the head
Which shall defy it.
[The Town-Crier exits; the crowd retires. Saverny enters. It begins to grow dark.
SCENE II
The same. Marquis de Saverny
BRICHANTEAU (going to Saverny).
Cousin Saverny,
I hope you've found the man who rescued you.
SAVERNY.
No; I have searched the city through in vain.
The robbers, the young man, and Marion—
They have all faded from me like a dream.
BRICHANTEAU.
You must have seen him when he brought you back,
Like a good Christian, from those infidels.
SAVERNY.
The first thing that he did was to throw down
The lamp.
GASSÉ.
That's strange!
BRICHANTEAU.
You'd recognize him if
You met him?
SAVERNY.
No; I didn't see his face.
BRICHANTEAU.
What is his name?
SAVERNY.
Didier.
ROCHEBARON.
That's no man's name!
That is a bourgeois name.
SAVERNY.
It doesn't matter.
Didier is this man's name. There are great men
Who have been conquerors and bear grand names,
But they've no greater hearts than this man had.
I had six robbers! He had Marion!
He left her, and saved me. My debt's immense!
This debt I mean to pay. I tell you all:
I'll pay it with the last drop of my blood!
VILLAC.
Since when do you pay debts?
SAVERNY (proudly).
I've always paid
Those debts which can be paid with blood.
Blood is the only change I carry, sir!
[It is quite dark; the windows in the city are lighted one by one; a lamplighter enters and lights a street-lamp above the edict and goes out. The little door through which Marion and Didier disappeared is re-opened. Didier comes forth dreamily, walking slowly, his arms folded.
SCENE III
The same. Didier
DIDIER (coming slowly from the back; no one sees or hears him).
Marquis de Saverny! I would like much
To see that fool who looked at her so hard.
I have him on my mind.
BOUCHAVANNES (to Saverny, who is talking with Brichanteau).
Saverny!
DIDIER (aside).
Ah,
That is my man!
[He advances slowly, his eyes fixed on the noblemen, and sits down at a table placed under the street-lamp, which lights up the edict. L'Angely, motionless and silent, is a few steps distant.
BOUCHAVANNES (to Saverny, who turns around).
You know about the edict?
SAVERNY.
Which one?
BOUCHAVANNES.
Commanding us to give up duels.
SAVERNY.
It is most wise.
BRICHANTEAU.
Hanging's the penalty.
SAVERNY.
You must be jesting. Commoners are hanged,
Not nobles.
BRICHANTEAU (showing the placard).
Read it for yourself. It's there,
Upon the wall.
SAVERNY (perceiving Didier).
That sallow face can read
For me.
[To Didier, elevating his voice.
DIDIER (slowly lifting his head, without taking his eyes from him).
You spoke to me?
SAVERNY.
I did! In fair return,
Read that placard which hangs above your head.
DIDIER.
I?
SAVERNY.
You—if you can spell the alphabet.
DIDIER (rising).
It is the edict threatening duelists
With gallows, be they nobles or plebeians.
SAVERNY.
No, you mistake, my friend. You ought to know
A nobleman was never born to hang,
And in this world, where we claim all our rights,
Plebeians are the gallows' only prey.
[To the noblemen.
DIDIER (overthrowing the table which is in front of him).
Beware!
You have insulted me! I've read for you;
I claim my recompense! I'll have it, too!
I want your blood, I want your head, Marquis!
SAVERNY (smiling).
We must be fitted to our station, sir.
I judge him commoner, he scents marquis
In me.
DIDIER.
Marquis and commoner can fight.
What do you say to mixing up our blood?
SAVERNY.
You go too fast, and fighting is not all.
I am Gaspard, Marquis de Saverny.
DIDIER.
What does that matter?
SAVERNY.
Here my seconds are!
The Count de Gassé, noble family,
And Count de Villac, family La Teuillade,
From which house comes the Marquis d'Aubusson.
Are you of noble blood?
DIDIER.
What matters that?
I am a foundling left at a church door.
I have no name; but in its place, I've blood,
To give you in exchange for yours!
SAVERNY.
That, sir,
Is not enough; but as a foundling, you
May claim the right, because you might be noble.
It is a better thing to lift a vassal
Than to degrade a peer. You may command me!
Choose your hour, sir.
DIDIER.
Immediately!
SAVERNY.
Agreed!
You're no usurper, that is clear.
DIDIER.
A sword!
SAVERNY.
You have no sword? The devil! that is bad.
You might be thought a man of low descent.
Will you have mine?
[Offers his sword to Didier.
[L'Angely rises, draws his sword and presents it to Didier.
L'ANGLEY.
No; for a foolish deed, you'd better take
A fool's sword! You are brave! You'll honor it!
[Maliciously.] And in return, to bring me luck, pray let
Me cut a piece from off the hanging-rope!
DIDIER (bitterly, taking sword).
I will.
[To The Marquis.
BRICHANTEAU (jumping with delight).
A duel—excellent!
SAVERNY (to Didier).
Where shall we fight?
DIDIER.
Beneath the street-lamp.
GASSÉ.
Gentlemen, you're mad!
You cannot see. You'll put your eyes out.
DIDIER.
Humph!
There's light enough to cut each other's throat.
SAVERNY.
Well said!
VILLAC.
You can see nothing.
DIDIER.
That's enough!
Each sword is lightning flashing in the dark.
Come, Marquis!
[Both throw off their cloaks, take off their hats with which they salute each other, throwing them afterward on the ground. Then they draw their swords.
SAVERNY.
At your service, sir.
DIDIER.
Now! Garde!
[They cross swords and fence, silently and furiously. Suddenly the small door opens, Marion in a white dress appears.
SCENE IV
The same. Marion
MARION.
What is this noise?
[Perceiving Didier under the lamp.
SAVERNY.
Who is this woman?
DIDIER (turning).
Heaven!
BOUCHAVANNES (running, to Saverny).
All is lost!
That woman's cry went through the town.
I saw the archers' rapiers flash.
[The Archers with torches enter.
BRICHANTEAU (to Saverny).
Seem dead,
Or you will be so!
SAVERNY (falling down).
Ah!
[Low to Brichanteau, who bends over him.
[Didier, who thinks he has killed him, pauses.
CAPTAIN OF THE DISTRICT.
Hold! In the King's name!
BRICHANTEAU (to the noblemen).
We must save the Marquis.
He's a dead man if he is caught.
[The noblemen surround Saverny.
CAPTAIN OF THE DISTRICT.
Zounds, sirs!
To fight a duel 'neath the very light
Of the edict is bold indeed!
[To Didier.] Give up
Your sword.
[The Archers seize Didier, who stands apart, and disarm him. The Captain indicates Saverny stretched upon the ground and surrounded by the noblemen.
BRICHANTEAU.
His name's Gaspard,
Marquis de Saverny, and he is dead.
CAPTAIN OF THE DISTRICT.
Dead, is he? Then his trouble's over. Good!
This dead man's worth more than the other.
MARION (frightened).
What!
CAPTAIN OF THE DISTRICT (to Didier).
The whole affair rests now with you, sir. Come!
[The Archers lead Didier off on one side, the noblemen carry Saverny off on the other.
DIDIER (to Marion, who is motionless from horror).
Forget me, Marion. Good-by! [They exit.
SCENE V
Marion, L'Angely
MARION (rushing to detain him).
Didier!
What do you mean? Good-by? Why this good-by?
Wherefore forget you?
[The Soldiers push her off; she approaches L'Angely with anguish.
L'ANGELY (takes her hand and leads her in silence before the edict).
Read this!
MARION (reads, and starts back with horror).
My God! Just God! Condemned to death!
They've taken him away. To kill him! Oh,
I brought this ruin on him with my cries!
I called for help, but my unhappy voice
Found death in the dark streets and brought her here.
Impossible! A duel is no crime!
[To L'Angely.
L'ANGELY.
I think they will.
MARION.
He can escape!
L'ANGELY.
The prison walls are high!
MARION.
I've brought this crime upon him with my sins.
God strikes him for my sake! My Didier! love!
[To L'Angely.] Nothing on earth seemed good enough for him!
A prison cell—my God! Death! Torture too!
L'ANGELY.
Perhaps! It all depends—
MARION.
I'll find the King!
He has a royal heart; he pardons.
L'ANGELY.
Yes,
The King does, not the Cardinal.
MARION.
Then, what—
What can I do?
L'ANGELY.
A capital offense,
Nothing can save him from the fatal rope.
MARION.
Oh, grief!
[To L'Angely.] You freeze my blood, sir. Who are you?
L'ANGELY.
I'm the King's jester!
MARION.
Oh, my Didier, love,
I'm lost, unworthy; but what God can do
With a weak woman's hands, I'll show to you.
Go on, my love; I follow!
[She goes out on the side from which Didier left.
L'ANGELY (alone).
God knows where!
[Picking up the sword which Didier left on the ground.
[He goes out.