The Lady's Maid (entering).
The Countess de Hun sends me to say to Mr. Richard, that when he has finished speaking to the Count she will be glad to see him....
John (to the Lady's Maid).
Say to the Countess that Mr. Richard will be with her in a few minutes. (The Lady's Maid goes away.) Ah! she has audacity. When a woman has once taken up the part of infamy and dishonour it is dreadful. (To Richard.) Tell her especially that she has nothing to fear, nothing to hope from me, of whom she will hear nothing more till we meet before the tribunal that will try our case. Good bye, my dear Mr. Richard; you are her lawyer and her friend; you ought, naturally and legally, to act in her cause. I shall think no less of you for all you will be called upon to say against me. Gentlemen, we can retire; give me a few minutes more.
(All three go away.)
Scene III.
RICHARD, afterwards LIONNETTE.
Richard is about to take up his hat. At the moment that he is thinking of entering Lionnette's apartment, she appears.
Lionnette.
I prefer to receive you here, my dear Mr. Richard, as we shall be left alone and uninterrupted. My room, and my private reception-room, are in disorder; they are packing my trunks—the servants are there, and we could not talk privately. The reason I called you just now was, that the Count might be aware that I was here, and that I was in a hurry to see you. Have you been kind enough to do what I asked you?