Act V
SCENE. Same as Act IV—one hour later. Noise of battle in distance.—PAUL discovered looking on and listening in excitement.—Noise increases and sounds nearer.
Paul
[Triumphantly.]
Ah!—The enemy weakens!—gives way!—falls back!—The Royalists fly!—The Republic wins!—Progress triumphs!
[The noise of battle grows louder, but the cries of triumph from Republicans decrease, then die away.—PAUL checks his joy and speaks in changed tones.]
And I—I have no part in this glorious play—because I’m on parole.
[Walking up and down excitedly.]
What torture!—to be here; with heart aflame, and limbs all free; to see the fight, and yet be bound to idleness by an oath, as much a prisoner as though in fetters at the bottom of a cell!
[Changing his whole manner.]
And Diane—where is she? But now within my reach—almost in my arms—naught between us but a promise, a mere breath—that breath as strong as adamantine walls to part us!
Jean
[Entering, sees PAUL and cries out.]
Kauvar!
Paul
[Turning, starts.]
Jean Litais!
Jean
You, alive?
Paul
My wife!—Where is she?
Jean
Don’t ask me!
Paul
You promised to save her.
Jean
I did.—But for the burning of the Faubourg, and the attack of the rebels, she would be alive and safe.
Paul
And now—?
Jean
She’s lost!—She, with her father and the Marquis, fell into an ambush—were fired on from every side—
Paul
Killed! And I am her assassin!
Jean
You?
Paul
Yes! I planned the burning of the Faubourg, placed the mines that blew it up, and opened a way for our attack.—In serving my country, I have killed my wife!
Jean
You are a soldier, then,—one of the blues?
Paul
Yes—and captured there at dawn. [Points at the Faubourg.
Jean
And not shot?
Paul
No—paroled!—paroled!—paroled!
Jean
Impossible! The watchword on both sides is “No mercy.”
Paul
La Rochejacquelein spared my life, that I might once more see my wife.—Useless generosity, for she had gone to meet her death!
Jean
But he—the General—was merciful, magnanimous to you?
Paul
He was. I owe him an eternal debt.
Jean
Are you willing to pay your debt?
Paul
With my life!
Jean
His army is routed. He will be captured—shot like a dog, unless he’s saved.
Paul
He must be saved.
Jean
There’s a secret passage from this castle to the glen. If I could put his pursuers off his track, he would escape.
Paul
Bring the General here and leave the rest to me.
Jean
You will aid him?
Paul
I will.—Be quick; we’re wasting time.
[JEAN crosses to door and beckons; enter LA HOGUE, LA
ROCHEJACQUELEIN and DENISE.
Paul
[Putting off his coat and crossing.]
General, off with your coat!
La Roche
What does this mean?
Paul
You were merciful to me—’tis my turn now! We exchange uniforms; I am captured in your place, mislead your pursuers while you escape.
La Roche
For you to assist me is treason to your cause.
Paul
Ingratitude is treason to my God!—I owe you more than life; let men call this what they will; I have a divine right to pay my debt.
La Roche
I refuse to let you do a deed that may bring dishonour on your head.
Paul
Then I refuse to owe my life to you.—Accept my assistance, or
[Drawing pistol from the belt of LA ROCHEJACQUELEIN.] with my own hand I’ll shoot the prisoner you paroled.
La Hogue
[Grasping PAUL’S arm.]
Stop! This can be arranged.
Paul
How?
La Hogue
You are a prisoner on parole.—The General is as good as captured now.—Let him release you from your word, then his escape will only be an exchange of prisoners.
Paul
Will you consent to this?
La Roche
No, I cannot. The exchange would not be fair to the side you serve. I am a General; you, but a Captain.
La Hogue
But we have the other prisoners, the comrades of the Captain; we can shoot them all at once, or exchange them if we choose for you.
Paul
Free them—and I but make a fair exchange in helping you to get away.
[Shouts outside.
[Cheers.
Jean
My God! The crowd rush on this way.
Denise
[Kneeling to LA ROCHEJACQUELEIN.]
In Mercy’s name—!
La Hogue
The King’s cause dies with you!—You are bound to live for him!
La Roche
[Stripping off his coat.]
Enough—I consent.
Denise
Thank God!
Paul and LA ROCHEJACQUELEIN exchange uniforms.
La Roche
By heavens! I never thought to wear this colour on my back! I do it for King Louis’ sake.
Paul
And I wear this in honour of the King of Kings, who is our common Father.
La Roche
My saviour!
Paul
Nay, your brother!
Paul and LA ROCHEJACQUELEIN look in each other’s eyes a moment, then part in silence. JEAN and DENISE cross to panel in wall. LA ROCHEJACQUELEIN crosses and turns.
La Roche
[Saluting PAUL.]
Long live the King!
Paul
[Saluting LA ROCHEJACQUELEIN.]
Long live the Republic!
La Hogue
[As LA ROCHEJACQUELEIN goes out,.]
Your comrades are there.
[Pointing.]
This key will set them free.
Paul
[Taking LA HOGUE’S hand.]
Our lives are yours!—Farewell!
La Hogue
Damme! I never thought I’d live to love a Sans Culotte!
[As LA HOGUE goes out, JEAN crosses to PAUL.
Jean
When you are recognized, our pursuit will recommence.
Paul
How much time is needed to make sure your escape?
Jean
At least one hour.—If your disguise is discovered in less time, you will have risked your life in vain.
Paul
Don’t fear!
Jean
I have your word, and no matter what happens, you will play your part for one whole hour?
Paul
You have my word, however tragic this comedy may become.
Jean
When the General is free, I shall return.
[A bell tolls the hour of Two.]
Listen! Remember, you have pledged your honour to endure all things for an hour. Till then—God help you!
[Exit.
Shouts and yells outside from Republican soldiers; PAUL sits near the fire and pays no attention. Firing outside, followed by cries and cheers.
Potin
[Outside.]
This way!—This way!—That’s his nest!—We’ll find the bird in there!
[Rushes on, followed by SOLDIERS.]
[Looking around.]
Deserted! The rogue of a royal General is hiding like a mouse! We’ll unearth him!—Come on!
[He is going toward door, followed by his MEN, when he sees PAUL, and starts back.]
Halt!
[Points at PAUL.]
See!—There is La Rochejacquelein!
[To the MEN.]
Make ready—Aim!
[SOLDIERS aim at PAUL, who does not move]
[To PAUL.]
General La Rochejacquelein, we recognize your uniform. Surrender!
[PAUL does not move.]
General, your sword, or we fire!
Paul
[Rising coolly.]
Fire!
Potin
We do not want to kill you.
[Advancing with extended hand.]
We’d rather have your sword.
Paul
[Recognizing POTIN, speaks aside.]
Potin!—The wretch!—He may recognize me before the hour is up!
[He draws his sword and extends it backward.
Potin
[Taking the sword.]
General, you are our prisoner.
[To SOLDIERS.]
Comrades, to us—a squad of the battalion of the Bonnet Rouge—is due the glory of taking the leader of these Royalist Brigands!—Hurrah for our Battalion!
[All cheer.
Voices
[Outside.]
Long live the Republic!
Potin
[Looking off]
Bah! Here come the rabble—a crowd of anarchists!
Goujon
Who never share the fighting.
Potin
But claim all the glory fighting brings.
Goujon
Curse these civil shouters!
Soldiers all groan. Cries of “Carrac! Carrac!” with cheers heard outside.
Potin
Here they come, led on by Scarlotte—
Goujon
Scarlotte! A woman in form—a fury in nature!
Potin
Like my wife.
[Cheers outside.]
Good heavens! Worse and worse! Yonder comes Carrac—the king of curs!—Damme! The devil himself is a saint compared with him.
Goujon
The beast!
Potin
The bloodiest beast of all—a tiger!
[To SOLDIERS.]
Quick, form on this side [Pointing to the left.] and protect the General.—This hog will want to eat him, before we can deliver him to Kleber and get the credit of his capture.
[SOLDIERS form in front of PAUL.
Scarlotte
[Outside.]
This way, you fools!—Death to Rochejacquelein. Come on!
Mob
[Outside.]
Death to Rochejacquelein!
Scarlotte
[Entering, followed by MOB.]
Rochejacquelein!—Rochejacquelein!—Where is Rochejacquelein?
Mob
Down with Rochejacquelein! Down with Rochejacquelein!
Bourdotte
[Appearing.]
Silence! Here comes Carrac, the great Carrac—representative of the Republic—who never spares an enemy!
[Comes down stage.
Potin
And never makes a friend.
Mob
Carrac!—Carrac!—Long live Carrac!
Carrac appears, followed by a second MOB, and makes a gesture commanding silence.
Carrac
So—this is the ancestral hall of that cursed kin of kings, La Rochejacquelein!—Ha! He’s doubtless sneaking like a coward in some safe corner of his den. Is the place surrounded?
Bourdotte
On every side.
Scarlotte
Good!—Tear his house about his ears!
Carrac
Aye—strip the old hawk’s nest.
Mob
Aye!—Aye!
[The MOB dismantle the house, with yells of exultation.
Scarlotte
[Urging them on.]
Heroes of Liberty!—demolish every trace of beauty in the place!
Amid a scene of anarchic rage and turmoil, the room is stript stark.
Carrac
Well done—noble levellers of the age!—Pull the boasted culture of the nobility to the gutter.—Bravo!—We’ve demolished the old nest; now to hunt the young hawk down!
Mob
Aye!—Aye!
Potin
[Waving the MOB back.]
Stop!—La Rochejacquelein is found!
Scarlotte
Where is he?
Potin
There—our prisoner.
Scarlotte
Drag him to the river!
Mob
Aye—to the river!
Potin
Stand back!—He belongs to our battalion.
Carrac
What insolence is this? We demand his surrender here—to us.
Potin
We surrender him to none but our own Colonel.
Carrac
We are the people and supreme!—We represent the civil power of the State, that rules the soldier.
Mob
Aye!—Aye!
Potin
[To the SOLDIERS.]
Make ready!—Aim!
[SOLDIERS aim;—the MOB fall back.]
You’re ten to one.—Come on, you civil rulers, and take him if you can.
Carrac
This is treason!
Scarlotte
Aye—treason!—Treason!
[The MOB groan.
Potin
Soldiers have no rulers but their officers!
Carrac
Someone go for General Kleber. Bid him come at once—to quell this mutiny.
Scarlotte
I will bring him.
[Crosses.]
Death to all who dare to balk the people’s will!
[Exit.
Bourdotte
Meantime, Citizen Carrac, we have some prisoners here at hand that we can dispatch at once.
Carrac
How many?
Bourdotte
Five.—Two men, and three women—perfect beauties!
Carrac
Bravo! Their beauty and their lives are ours!
[Cheers from MOB.]
Bring them in!
[Exeunt eight SANS CULOTTES.]
Citizens, we’ve won to-day a glorious victory.
Potin
There he goes boasting, when he never struck a blow.
Carrac
Let’s complete our triumph—prove our power—
Mob
Bravo!—Bravo!
Carrac
You are the people!—You are France!—Let the Nation voice her will through you.—What shall we do with our prisoners?
Bourdotte
Kill them.
Mob
Aye—kill them—kill them!
Bourdotte
Drown the men like puppies, and put the women to public shame!
Mob
Aye! Aye!
Carrac
The voice of the people is the voice of God.—Have your will—it is God’s command!
Enter CITIZENS, dragging the DUKE, GOUROC, DIANE, NANETTE, and ALINE, a young girl.
The MOB _groan and laugh mockingly.
The young girl is dragged forward—two_ SANS CULOTTES contending for her.
First Sans Culotte
She’s mine!
Second Sans Culotte
You lie!—I caught her first!
Aline
Mercy!—Kill me if you will,—but spare me this!
Carrac
[Laughing.]
Citizens,—behold your victims!
[MOB rush forward with ferocious yells.
Duke
[Interposing.]
No, no!—Let my grey hairs suffice!
[The MOB pause.
Paul
[Starting up, speaks aside.]
My God!—That voice!
[During what follows, PAUL—screened from the MOB’S view by his soldier GUARDS—expresses in pantomime his conflicting emotions.
Carrac
[To the DUKE.]
Who are you?
Gouroc
[Speaking quickly.]
We are Citizens of the Republic!—He
[Pointing at the DUKE.]
is George Leblanc—and I, Citizen Gouroc of the Committee of Public Safety.
[CARRAC and MOB draw back with astonishment.
Paul
[Aside.]
And Diane!—Is she there?—I must see!
[Starts, stops.]
No, no!—They would know me; the hour is not up!
Carrac
You, Citizen Gouroc?—I don’t believe it.
Gouroc
[Holding out papers.]
Here are our credentials.
Carrac
They may be forgeries.
Mob
Aye—forgeries! forgeries!
Carrac
[To the MOB.]
Silence! While we proceed in our examination.
[The MOB utter low murmurs. CARRAC turns to NANETTE.]
Who are you?
Nanette
[Advancing defiantly.]
I am Citizeness Nanette Potin.
Potin
[Aside.]
My wife!—
[Sneaks behind comrades.
Carrac
Ha, wait!
[Seeing DIANE, he drags her forth.]
By the gods!—here’s a feast for Jupiter himself.—Speak out, delicious wench, and tell us who you are.
Diane
I am Diane—
Gouroc
[Interrupting quickly.]
She is Diane Gouroc.—
[Pointing at the DUKE.]
His daughter and my wife.
Paul
[Exploding.]
Liar!
[All start and turn toward PAUL, who speaks aside.]
God help me!—I forget; the hour is not ended.
Carrac
Who is it calls this citizen a liar?
Goujon
The prisoner.
Carrac
Ah, ha! It seems he knows these citizens.—In the name of the law and the Republic, I summon instantly as a witness Henri de la Rochejacquelein.
Diane
My cousin captured?
[All turn toward her, amazed.
Gouroc
[Starting.]
My God!—We’re lost!
Carrac
So—the prisoner is the beauty’s cousin.
[To GOUROC.]
Traitor! You have lied!—This convicts you all.
Mob
To the guillotine!—To the guillotine!
Bourdotte
No! A marriage! A Republican marriage!
Mob
Aye! A marriage! marriage!
[BOURDOTTE drags forth NANETTE.
Nanette
What are you going to do?
Bourdotte
Tie you to this man and throw you in the river.—That’s the way we marry Royalists!
[The MOB laugh mockingly.
Nanette
[Shrieking.]
Help!
Potin
[Exploding.]
Damnation!—Tongue or no tongue, I must save her.
[Bounds forward and frees his wife.]
Nanette!
Nanette
[Joyfully embracing POTIN.]
Dodolphe!
Carrac
What does this mean?
Potin
This is my wife; the wife of a soldier of the Republic, and so, sacred to her country.
Soldiers
Aye! Aye!
Potin
[Pointing to GOUROC.]
Do what you like with him—for such cattle as he deserve to die!
[GOUROC turns and glowers.]
Glare! Who cares? I’m a soldier. ’Tis my turn now!—You shall pay dearly for making me a perjurer!
[To MOB.]
Citizens, this devil here forced me to swear falsely against a patriot.
Bourdotte
When was this?
Potin
Three months ago in Paris.—I was secretary to my Section.—This man had a blank warrant signed by our president, Paul Kauvar.—He made me fill it in with the name of the Duc de Beaumont—and, after, falsely swear that Kauvar had ordered the arrest.
[Cries of execration from the MOB.
Diane
Father! You hear? It is to him that we owe our agony!—One of your own race.
Potin
Kauvar was his friend—this dog betrayed him!
Nanette
Yes, while he himself was all the time a Marquis in disguise.
Paul
He, my friend—a traitor!
Carrac
Death to the brigand!
Mob
Death to him! To the river! Drown him!
[They seize GOUROC.
Gouroc
[Breaking away from them.]
Fiends—I defy you, and escape you!
[Draws pistol, fires, and falls dead.
Bourdotte
[Feeling GOUROC’S breast.]
Dead.—Dead as potted pork.
Carrac
And the people cheated of their just revenge!
Citizens bear GOUROC’S body off.
Bourdotte
Ah, look, we have still the old Aristo and his daughter!
Mob
Aye!—Aye! Away with them! Away with them!
[They rush on the DUKE and DIANE.
Paul
My God! Will this hour never end?
Carrac
[To the MOB.]
Here! Strip her! Drive her to her death!
[The MOB howls.—DIANE breaks from CARRAC.—Bell tolls.
Paul
[With a cry of joy.]
The hour strikes!—I’m free!
[CARRAC seizes DIANE _again and drags her to the centre of the stage.
Rushing from his concealed position_, PAUL tears DIANE, fainting, from the arms of CARRAC, whom he flings to the ground—warning back the MOB, who pause for a moment, staring in amazement.
Bourdotte
Ha—the brigand—kill him!—
Mob
[Advancing.]
Kill him!—Kill him!
Potin
[Aiming, with SOLDIERS.]
Halt!—He is our prisoner.
[The MOB recoil.
Paul
[Flinging off his coat and hat.]
No! Not your prisoner! Your officer!—Captain on Kleber’s staff: Captain Paul Kauvar.
Diane
[With a cry—quivering, incredulous.]
Paul!—Alive!
Paul
Heaven is merciful at last!
[He takes her in his arms.
Potin
By the gods, it is!—The Citizen Kauvar!
Goujon
Then La Rochejacquelein has got away?
Carrac
[Rising, to PAUL.]
If you are a soldier of the Republic, how is it we find you in the coat of a brigand?
Paul
That’s my affair, not yours.
Carrac
What! You refuse to answer? [Coming close to PAUL.] Do you know who I am?
Paul
[With quiet, increasing intensity, before which CARRAC is utterly cowed.]
Yes,—Carrac—an anarchist—a fiend—in the name of liberty invoking the tyranny of terror! An assassin—shouting fraternity and committing fratricide! A libertine—claiming equality with the good, while ravishing the pure! A monster—part vulture, part toad—who, in the holy name of progress, makes our Country and our Cause revolting to the world!
Bourdotte
Ha! See! Carrac recoils! He’s found his match at last!—
[MOB laugh and jeer.
Scarlotte
[Appearing.]
Room there!—Room for General Kleber.
Mob
[Falling back on both sides.]
Kleber!—Kleber!—Long live Kleber!
Kleber
[Entering with three OFFICERS.]
I am told there is mutiny—treason here. Who and where are the accused?
Carrac
[Pointing at PAUL.]
There stands the worst of them!
Kleber
[Astounded]
Captain Kauvar!—Of what is he accused?
Carrac
Treachery to France! He has worn the colours of the Royal Cause.
Goujon
We arrested him as Rochejacquelein.
Carrac
Whom he has aided to escape.
Kleber
A terrible charge! The punishment is instant death.—Captain Kauvar, what have you to say?
Paul
But little.—I led last night the band of men who mined the Faubourg and cleared the road for our army to advance.
Kleber
A desperate undertaking, crowned with great success!—We gave you all up as dead.
Paul
We should have been, but for the clemency of Rochejacquelein. He spared my men, and put me on parole. He could have shot us all, but by letting him escape I saved the band of patriots to whom our army owes its victory to-day.
[All cheer.
Kleber
Captain Kauvar, you did right!
[The MOB cheer.
Carrac
Citizens, the watchword sent from Robespierre to Vendée was this: “Death without mercy to the Aristocrats.”
[Pointing at the DUKE.]
Here is one, at least; I claim him for the guillotine.
Mob
Aye—to the guillotine! To the guillotine!
Kleber
[As the MOB rush on the DUKE.]
Halt!
[The MOB fall back.]
Citizens, I bring you glorious news! These despatches have just reached me on the field. They come from the National Convention at the Capitol of France. Listen!
[Reads.]
“The tyrant Robespierre has been guillotined. The reign of terror is at an end. Proclaim amnesty, mercy, and fraternity to all Frenchmen in Vendée.”
[All cheer.
Carrac
Robespierre dead! What will the people do without the guillotine?
Paul
Drive anarchists and Carracs out of France!
Bourdotte
Aye! Away with him! Away with him!
[Rushing on CARRAC, the MOB nearly tear him to pieces as they bear him away.
Scarlotte
[Fighting the MOB.]
Ingrates—traitors—dogs—ye shall not harm him—back! back! back!
[Exit, facing the MOB, and trying to save CARRAC.
Jean
[Bounding in from panel, speaks to PAUL.]
You see I have returned!
Duke
And the General?
Jean
Has escaped to England, [Pointing to PAUL.] thanks to him.
Kleber
[Taking a cross from his own breast, and advancing to PAUL.]
Captain Kauvar, you risked almost certain death to purchase victory for France. In the name of the Republic, I decorate you for heroic courage on the field!
[He places the cross on PAUL’S breast. All cheer.
Duke
[Extending his hand to PAUL.]
My son!—
[PAUL clasps it.
Diane
At last, thank God, dear France is free of tyrants.
Paul
Liberty is wed to Justice, and Anarchy is ended!
CURTAIN.
End of the Play.