BUSSY
Letters—arrived from Paris. [Hands letters.]
SECRETARY
He shall have them
The moment he awakes. These eighteen hours
He’s been astride; and is not what he was.—
Much news from Paris?
BUSSY
I can only say
What’s not the news. The courier has just told me
He’d nothing from the Empress at Vienna
To bring his Majesty. She writes no more.
SECRETARY
And never will again! In my regard
That bird’s forsook the nest for good and all.
BUSSY
All that they hear in Paris from her court
Is through our spies there. One of them reports
This rumour of her: that the Archduke John,
In taking leave to join our enemies here,
Said, “Oh, my poor Louise; I am grieved for you
And what I hope is, that he’ll be run through,
Or shot, or break his neck, for your own good
No less than ours.
NAPOLÉON [waking]
By “he” denoting me?
BUSSY [starting]
Just so, your Majesty.
NAPOLÉON [peremptorily]
What said the Empress?
BUSSY
She gave no answer, sire, that rumour bears.
NAPOLÉON
Count Neipperg, whom they have made her chamberlain,
Interred his wife last spring—is it not so?