DE CANISY
But you must go.
[The child’s fingers are pulled away. Exit DE CANISY with the King
OF ROME, who is heard screaming as he is carried down the staircase.]
MADAME DE MONTESQUIOU
I feel the child is right!
A premonition has enlightened him.
She ought to stay. But, ah, the die is cast!
[MADAME DE MONTESQUIOU and the remainder of the party follow, and
the room is left empty. Enter servants hastily.]
FIRST SERVANT
Sacred God, where are we to go to for grub and good lying to-night?
What are ill-used men to do?
SECOND SERVANT
I trudge like the rest. All the true philosophers are gone, and the
middling true are going. I made up my mind like the truest that ever
was as soon as I heard the general alarm beat.
THIRD SERVANT
I stay here. No Allies are going to tickle our skins. The storm
which roots—Dost know what a metaphor is, comrade? I brim with
them at this historic time!
SECOND SERVANT
A weapon of war used by the Cossacks?
THIRD SERVANT
Your imagination will be your ruin some day, my man! It happens to
be a weapon of wisdom used by me. My metaphor is one may’st have
met with on the rare times when th’hast been in good society. Here
it is: The storm which roots the pine spares the p—s—b—d. Now
do you see?
FIRST AND SECOND SERVANTS
Good! Your teaching, friend, is as sound as true religion! We’ll
not go. Hearken to what’s doing outside. [Carriages are heard
moving. Servants go to the window and look down.] Lord, there’s
the Duchess getting in. Now the Mistress of the Wardrobe; now the
Ladies of the Palace; now the Prefects; now the Doctors. What a
time it takes! There are near a dozen berlines, as I am a patriot!
Those other carriages bear treasure. How quiet the people are! It
is like a funeral procession. Not a tongue cheers her!
THIRD SERVANT
Now there will be a nice convenient time for a little good victuals
and drink, and likewise pickings, before the Allies arrive, thank
Mother Molly!
[From a distant part of the city bands are heard playing military
marches. Guns next resound. Another servant rushes in.]
FOURTH SERVANT
Montmartre is being stormed, and bombs are falling in the Chaussee
d’Antin!
[Exit fourth servant.]