Ah, what now?
Voice of the Queen
I heard you were so indisposed you could not come to me even upon the most urgent matter.
[The Duchess signifies with a gesture of fury that she is aware of being fatally played against. In the meantime the Queen is putting her own key into the lock. Josephine turns with supplication to Gwymplane, at length too afflicted by the situation to guard her poise.]
Duchess
You would not talk like a clown. Be——I know you—a gentleman. Save me! Save us!
[She points to a door.]
In there—a blind closet. Do not attempt to escape or we shall hear you.
Gwymplane
[Bowing low and casting an ironic eye upon the panic of the Duchess.]