Valsin [during an abatement of his attack]. Oh, pardon! It is—too—much—too much for me! You say—these people are—
Eloise [stamping her foot]. Under the protection of Eloise d'Anville, imbecile! You cannot touch them. She wills it! [At this, Valsin shouts as if pleading for mercy, and beats the air with his hands. He struggles to his feet and, pounding himself upon the chest, walks to and fro in the effort to control his convulsion.]
Eloise [to Anne, under cover of the noise he makes]. I was wrong: he is not an idiot.
Anne [despairingly]. He laughs at you.
Eloise [in a quick whisper]. Out of bluster; because he is afraid. He is badly frightened. I know just what to do. Go into the other room with Louis.
Anne [protesting weakly]. I can't hope—
Eloise [flashing from a cloud]. You failed, didn't you? [Madame de Laseyne, after a tearful perusal of the stern resourcefulness now written in the younger woman's eyes, succumbs with a piteous gesture of assent and goes out forlornly. Eloise closes the door and stands with her back to it.]
Valsin [paying no attention to them]. Eloise d'Anville! [Still pacing the room in the struggle to subdue his hilarity.] This young citizeness speaks of the protection of Eloise d'Anville! [Leaning feebly upon Dossonville's shoulder.] Do you hear, my Dossonville? It is an ecstasy. Ecstasize, then. Scream, Dossonville!
Dossonville [puzzled, but evidently accustomed to being so, cackles instantly]. Perfectly. Ha, ha! The citizeness is not only stirringly beautiful, she is also—
Valsin. She is also a wit. Susceptible henchman, concentrate your thoughts upon domesticity. In this presence remember your wife!