Scene II
Marion, Laffemas
MARION (showing a parchment to The Turnkey).
Order of the King!
THE TURNKEY.
You can’t
Enter, madame.
Marion.
What!
LAFFEMAS (presenting a paper to The Turnkey).
Signed, the Cardinal!
THE TURNKEY.
Enter.
[When about to enter, Laffemas turns, looks at Marion a moment, then approaches her. The Turnkey shuts the door.
LAFFEMAS (to Marion).
You here? This questionable place!
MARION.
I am. [Triumphantly showing the parchment.
I have the pardon!
LAFFEMAS (showing his).
Yes? I have
The revocation!
MARION (with a cry of horror).
Mine was yesterday—
The morning!
LAFFEMAS.
Mine, last night!
MARION (with hands over her eyes).
My God! No hope!
LAFFEMAS.
Hope is a flash of lightning which deceives.
The clemency of kings is a frail thing;
It comes with lagging steps and goes with wings.
MARION.
The King was moved with pity for their fate!
LAFFEMAS.
What can the King against the Cardinal?
MARION.
Oh, Didier, our last hope’s extinguished now!
LAFFEMAS (low).
Not—not the last!
MARION.
Just Heaven!
LAFFEMAS (drawing near to her).
There is here
A man whom one short word from you could make
Happier than any king, and mightier too!
MARION.
Away!
LAFFEMAS.
Is that your answer?
MARION (haughtily).
I beg you!
LAFFEMAS.
How fleeting are the whims of the fair sex!
You were not always, madame, so severe!
Now that ’tis question of your lover’s life—
MARION (without looking at him, turning to the small door, her hands clasped).
If it would save your life, I could not go
Back to that infamy. My soul’s grown pure
At touch of you, my Didier; sin is shamed.
Your love gives back my lost virginity.
LAFFEMAS.
Well, love him!
MARION.
Ah, he pushes me from crime
To vice! Oh, monster, go! Let me keep pure!
LAFFEMAS.
There is but one thing left for me to do!
MARION.
What is it?
LAFFEMAS.
I can show you—let you see.
It is to-night.
MARION (trembling all over).
Oh, heaven! this night!
LAFFEMAS.
This night
The Cardinal, in litter, will attend.
[Marion is buried in a deep and painful reverie. Suddenly she passes her two hands over her brow and turns, as if wild, toward Laffemas.
MARION.
How could you manage their escape?
LAFFEMAS (low).
You mean?
Two of my men could guard this place, by which
The Cardinal passes—
[He listens at the small door.
I think some one comes!
MARION (wringing her hands).
You’ll save him?
LAFFEMAS.
Yes.
[Low.] To tell you in this place—
The walls have echoes—elsewhere.
MARION (with despair).
Come!
[Laffemas goes toward the large door and signs to her to follow. She falls on her knees, turned toward the grating of the prison; then she arises with a convulsive effort and disappears through the great door after Laffemas. Saverny and Didier enter, surrounded by Guards.