The garden of the Convent of the Visitation at Nantes. Long lines of fruit trees which appear to sleep in the sunshine. In the middle of the garden a stone fountain, where rises and falls a little jet of water. To the left the white buildings of the convent; in the background, between the convent and the street, a high garden wall, the tops of trees, and the roof and spire of a church. There is a barred door in the wall. The doors and windows of the convent parlour giving upon the garden are open. It is the summer of 1792.
A nun appears for a moment at the door of the convent, then vanishes, and De Vardes and Yvette enter the garden.
De Vardes
What hast thou learned to-day?
Yvette
In history:
The battles of Rossbach and of Minden!
The Peace of Paris—
De Vardes
Indeed!