Scene X
The same. Comedians, among them Marion and Didier; afterward Saverny, afterward Marquis de Nangis
SCARAMOUCHE (to Laffemas).
What do you want with us?
LAFFEMAS.
Without preamble:
My lord the Cardinal commissioned me
To find good actors, if there may be such
Within the provinces, to act the plays
Which he constructs in hours of leisure when
Allowed by State affairs. In spite of care
And earnest thought, his theater declines,
And is no credit to a cardinal-duke.
[All the actors press eagerly forward. Saverny enters, and watches the scene with curiosity.
GRACIEUX (aside, counting his money).
Twelve only! He said twenty. The old scamp!
He’s robbed me!
LAFFEMAS.
Let each one repeat some scene,
That I may know your talents and may choose.
[Aside.] If he gets out of that, this Didier’s sharp.
[Aloud.] Are you all here?
[Marion stealthily approaches Didier and tries to lead him off.
GRACIEUX (going up to them).
Come with the others—you!
MARION.
Oh, heaven!
[Didier leaves her and joins the actors; she follows him.
GRACIEUX.
You’re in luck to be with us.
To have new clothes, get every day a feast,
To speak the Cardinal’s verses every night,
A happy lot!
[All the actors take their places before Laffemas. Marion and Didier among them. Didier does not look at Marion; his eyes are bent on the ground; his arms are folded underneath his cloak. Marion watches him anxiously.
GRACIEUX (at head of troupe, aside).
Who would have thought this crow
Recruited actors for the Cardinal?
LAFFEMAS (to Gracieux).
First you. What do you play?
GRACIEUX (with a low bow and a pirouette which shows off his hump).
I’m called the Sylph
Among the troupe. This piece I know the best.
[He sings.
“On the bald heads of magistrates,
Enormous wigs are spread.
Out of that fleece, in due time, come
Chains, gallows, tortures dread.
Whenever one called president
Shall shake his bigger head.
“Let any barber, strolling fool,
Wash, powder, and pomade
The hair which bald heads steal from beards,
Let them be combed and frayed
In shape of a right gorgeous wig—
Your magistrate is made.
“The lawyer is a sea of words
Hurled wildly at the bench.
A killing kind of mixing up
Of Latin and bad French—”
LAFFEMAS (interrupting him).
You sing so false, you’d make an eagle sick.
Be still!
GRACIEUX (laughing).
I may sing false—the song is true!
LAFFEMAS (to Scaramouche).
It’s your turn now.
SCARAMOUCHE (bowing).
I’m Scaramouche, my lord!
“The Lady of Honor,” sir, I open thus.
[Declaiming.
“‘Naught is so fine,’ said once a Queen of Spain,
‘As bishop at the altar, soldier in
The field, unless it is a girl in bed,
Or robber on the gallows—’”
[Laffemas interrupts Scaramouche with a gesture and signs to Taillebras to speak. Taillebras makes a profound obeisance, then draws himself up.
TAILLEBRAS (with emphasis).
As for me,
Sir, I am Taillebras. From Thibet, sir,
I come; I’ve punished the great Khan, I’ve captured
The Mogul—
LAFFEMAS.
Choose something else—
[Low to Saverny, who stands beside him.
A beauty,
Eh, this Marion!
TAILLEBRAS.
It is one of our best.
If you prefer, I will be Charlemagne,
The Emperor of the West.
[Declaiming with emphasis.
“Strange destiny!
O Heaven, I appeal to you! Bear witness
Unto my woe. I must despoil myself,
Surrender my beloved one to another.
I must endow my rival, fill his heart
With joy, while my poor stomach stings with grief.
Thus, birds, you can no more perch in the woods;
Thus, flies, you can no more buzz in the fields;
Thus, sheep, you can no longer wear your wool;
Thus, bulls, you can no longer raze the plains.”
LAFFEMAS.
Good!
[To Saverny.] Listen, the fine verses! “Bradamante”
By Garnier; what a poet!
[To Marion.] ’Tis your turn,
My beauty. First, your name.
MARION (trembling).
I am Chimène!
LAFFEMAS.
Indeed! Chimène? Then you must have a lover.
He has killed a man in duel—
MARION (terrified).
Oh, heaven!
LAFFEMAS (maliciously).
I’ve a good memory. If one escapes—
MARION (aside).
Great heaven!
LAFFEMAS.
Come! Now let us hear your scene
MARION (half turned toward Didier).
“Since to arrest you in this fatal course
Your life and honor are of no avail,
If ever I have loved you, Roderick,
Defend yourself to save me from Don Sancho.
Fight valiantly against the fearful fate
Which must surrender me to one I hate.
Shall I say more? Go; your defense shall be
Your right to force my duty, seal my lips!
If love for me still in your brave heart lies,
Go win this combat, for Chimène is prize.”
[Laffemas rises gallantly and kisses her hand. Marion is pale; she looks at Didier, who remains motionless with eyes on the ground.
LAFFEMAS.
No voice but yours could take so firm a hold
Upon the secret fibers of our heart.
You are adorable.
[To Saverny.] You can’t deny
Corneille is not worth Garnier, after all.
’Tis true, his verses have a finer ring
Since he’s belonged unto the Cardinal-Duke.
[To Marion.] What a complexion! What fine eyes! Good God!
This is no place for you! You’re buried here.
Sit down!
[He sits and makes sign to Marion to sit beside him; she draws back.
MARION (low to Didier, with anguish).
For God’s sake, let me stay with you!
LAFFEMAS (smiling).
Come sit by me, I say!
[Didier repulses Marion, who staggers terrified to the bench where Laffemas sits, and falls upon it.
MARION (aside).
’Tis horrible!
LAFFEMAS (smiling at Marion, with an air of reproach).
At last!
[To Didier.] Now, sir, your turn. What is your name?
DIDIER (with gravity).
My name is Didier!
MARION, LAFFEMAS, SAVERNY.
Didier!
DIDIER (to Laffemas, who laughs triumphantly).
Yes, you can
Send all of them away. You’ve got your prey.
Your prisoner himself takes up his chain.
This joy has cost you a great deal of work.
MARION (running to him).
Didier!
DIDIER (with a freezing look).
Don’t try to hinder me this time,
Madame!
[She starts back and falls crushed upon the bank: to Laffemas.
I’ve watched you creeping close to me,
You demon! In your eyes I’ve seen that glare
Of hell fire which illuminates your soul.
I might have ’scaped your trap—a useless thing;
But to see cunning wasted thus grieved me.
Take me, and get well paid for treachery.
LAFFEMAS (with concentrated rage, trying to laugh).
You are not a comedian, it would seem!
DIDIER.
It’s you who played the comedy.
LAFFEMAS.
Not well.
But with the Cardinal I’ll write a play.
It is a tragedy: you have a part.
[Marion screams with horror. Didier turns from her with contempt.
Don’t turn your head in such a lordly way.
We will admire your acting, never fear!
Come, recommend your soul to God, my friend.
MARION.
Ah, God!
[At this moment Marquis de Nangis passes across the back of the stage, in the same attitude, with his escort of Halberdiers. Marion’s cry arrests him; pale and silent he turns to the characters.
LAFFEMAS (to Marquis de Nangis).
Marquis, I claim your aid. Good news!
Lend me your escort. The murderer escaped
Our vigilance, but we’ve recaptured him.
MARION (throwing herself at Laffemas’s feet).
Oh, pity for him!
LAFFEMAS (with gallantry).
At my feet, madame!
’Tis I should kneel at yours.
MARION (on her knees, clasping her hands).
My lord the judge,
Have mercy upon others, if some day
You hope a jealous judge, more powerful
Than you are, will be merciful to you!
LAFFEMAS (smiling).
You’re preaching us a sermon, I believe!
Ah, madame, reign at balls and shine at fêtes,
But do not preach us sermons. For your sake,
I would do anything; but he has killed—
It is a murder.
DIDIER (to Marion).
Rise! [Marion rises, trembling.
You lie! it was a duel.
LAFFEMAS.
Sir!
DIDIER.
I say, you lie!
LAFFEMAS.
Have done!
[To Marion.] Blood calls
For blood; this rigor troubles me— I wish—
But he has killed—killed whom? The young marquis,
Gaspard de Saverny,
[Indicating Marquis de Nangis.
Nephew to him,
That worthy old man there. A rare young lord;
The greatest loss for France and for the King.
Were he not dead, I do not say that I—
My heart is not of stone, and if—
SAVERNY (taking a step forward).
The man
You think is dead is living. I am he!
[General astonishment.
LAFFEMAS (starting).
Gaspard de Saverny! A miracle!
There is his coffin.
SAVERNY (tearing off his false mustache, his plaster, and black wig).
But he is not dead!
Who recognizes me?
MARQUIS DE NANGIS (as if awakening from a dream, starts, and with a great cry throws himself into his nephew’s arms).
Gaspard! My nephew!
It is my child! [They remain locked in each other’s arms.
MARION (falling upon her knees and lifting her eyes to heaven).
Didier is saved! Praise God!
DIDIER (coldly, to Saverny).
What is the use? I wished to die.
MARION (still on her knees).
Kind God,
You have protected him!
DIDIER (continuing, without listening to her).
How otherwise
Could he have caught me in his trap? Think you
My spur could not have crushed the spider’s web
Which he had made to catch a gnat? Henceforth
I ask no other boon than death. This is
No friendly gift from you, who owe me life!
MARION.
What does he say? You must live—
LAFFEMAS.
All’s not over.
Is it certain that this is the Marquis?
MARION.
It is.
LAFFEMAS.
We must have proof of it at once.
MARION (indicating Marquis de Nangis, who is still holding Saverny in his arms).
Look at that old man, how he smiles and weeps!
LAFFEMAS.
Is that Gaspard de Saverny?
MARION.
What heart
Can question such a close embrace?
MARQUIS DE NANGIS (turning around).
You ask
If it is he—Gaspard, my son, my soul?
[To Marion.] Did he not ask if it was he, madame?
LAFFEMAS (to Marquis de Nangis).
Then you affirm that this man is your nephew?
He is Gaspard de Saverny?
MARQUIS DE NANGIS (with intensity).
I do!
LAFFEMAS.
According to the law I do arrest
Gaspard de Saverny, in the King’s name.
Your sword!
[Surprise and consternation among the characters.
MARQUIS DE NANGIS.
My son!
MARION.
Oh, Heaven!
DIDIER.
Another head!
Yes, two were needed. ’Tis the least, to bring
This Roman Cæsar one head in each hand.
MARQUIS DE NANGIS.
Speak! By what right—
LAFFEMAS.
Ask my lord cardinal.
All who survive a duel fall beneath
The ordinance. Give me your sword.
DIDIER (looking at Saverny).
Rash man!
SAVERNY (drawing his sword and presenting it to Laffemas).
’Tis here!
MARQUIS DE NANGIS (stopping him).
A moment! None is master here
Save me! I mete out justice high and low.
Our sire the King would be no more than guest.
[To Saverny.] Give up your sword to none but me.
[Saverny hands him his sword, and clasps him in his arms.
LAFFEMAS.
In truth,
That is a feudal right quite out of date.
The Cardinal might blame me for it, but
I would not willingly annoy you—
DIDIER.
Wretch!
LAFFEMAS (bowing to Marquis de Nangis).
So I consent. You can return the favor
By loaning me your guard and prison, sir.
MARQUIS DE NANGIS (to his Guards).
Not so! Your sires were vassals to my sires.
I forbid any one to stir a step.
LAFFEMAS (with voice of thunder).
My masters, hark to me: I am the judge
Of the secret tribunal, Criminal-
Lieutenant to the Cardinal. Conduct
These men to prison. Four of you mount guard
Before each door. You’re all responsible.
It would be rash to disobey when I command
You to go here or there or do a deed.
If any hesitate, it is because
His head annoys him.
[The Guards, terrified, drag the two prisoners off in silence, Marquis de Nangis turns away indignant and buries his face in his hands.
MARION.
All is lost!
[To Laffemas.] Have pity!
If in your heart—
LAFFEMAS (low to Marion).
If you will come to-night,
I’ll tell you something—
MARION (aside).
What is it he wants?
His smiles are terrible. He has a gloomy,
Treacherous soul.
[Turning with desperation to Didier.
Didier!
DIDIER (coldly).
Farewell, madame!
MARION (shuddering at the tone of his voice).
What have I done? Oh, miserable woman!
[She sinks upon the bank.
DIDIER.
Miserable! Yes!
SAVERNY (embraces Marquis de Nangis, then turns to Laffemas).
Is your pay doubled
When you bring two heads?
LACKEY (entering, to Marquis de Nangis).
My lord,
The funeral preparations for the Marquis
Are now completed. I am sent to you
To know what hour and day the ceremony
Will be performed.
LAFFEMAS.
Come back one month from now.
[The Guards lead off Didier and Saverny.