Marion de Lorme — Act 5
THE CARDINAL
Scene.
--_Beaugency.
The tower of Beaugency.
A courtyard; the tower in the background, all around a high wall.
To the left, a tall arched door;
to the right, a small rounded door in the wall; near the door a stone table and stone bench_ SCENE I
_Some Workmen.
They are pulling down a corner of the back wall on the left.
The demolition is almost completed_ FIRST WORKMAN (_working with his pickax_).
It's very hard!
SECOND WORKMAN (_working_).
Deuce take this heavy wall we're pulling down!
THIRD WORKMAN (_working_).
Saw you the scaffold, Peter?
FIRST WORKMAN.
Yes, I did.
[_He goes to the large door and measures it.
_ The door is narrow; never will the litter Of the Lord Cardinal go through it.
THIRD WORKMAN.
Bah!
Is it a house?
FIRST WORKMAN (_with affirmative gesture_).
With great long curtains.
Yes.
It takes some four and twenty men on foot To carry it.
SECOND WORKMAN.
I saw the great machine, One night when it was very dark.
It looked Just like Leviathan in shadow-land.
THIRD WORKMAN.
What does he come here with his sergeants for?
FIRST WORKMAN.
To see the execution of those two young men.
He's sick.
He needs to be amused.
SECOND WORKMAN.
To work!
[_They resume work; the wall is about torn down.
_ Saw you the scaffold, all in black?
That comes Of being noble!
FIRST WORKMAN.
They have everything.
SECOND WORKMAN.
I wonder If they would build a black scaffold for us.
FIRST WORKMAN.
What have those young men done that they should die?
Hein?
Do you understand, Maurice?
THIRD WORKMAN.
I don't. It's justice.
[_They continue their work.
Laffemas enters; The Workmen are silent.
He comes from the back as though he were coming from an inside court of the prison; stops beside The Workmen, appears to examine the breach, and gives them some directions.
When the space is opened, he orders them to hang black cloth across it, which covers it entirely; then he dismisses them.
At almost the same moment Marion appears, dressed in white, and veiled; she enters through the great door, crosses the court rapidly, and runs to the grating of the small door, at which she knocks.
Laffemas follows slowly in the same direction.
The grating is opened;
The Turnkey appears.
_ 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.
_ SCENE III
_Didier, Saverny.
Saverny, dressed in the latest fashion, enters gayly and petulantly.
Didier is in black, walks slowly, is very pale.
A jailer accompanied by Halberdiers conducts them.
The Jailer places the two Halberdiers as sentinels beside the black curtain.
Didier sits, silently, on the stone bench_ SAVERNY (_to The Jailer, who opens the door for him_).
Thank you.
The air is very good!
THE JAILER (_low, and drawing him aside_).
My lord, two words with you.
SAVERNY.
Four, if you like.
THE JAILER (_lowering his voice still more_).
Will you escape?
SAVERNY (_eagerly_).
Speak!
How?
THE JAILER.
That's my affair.
SAVERNY.
Truly?
[_The Jailer nods his head.
_ Lord Cardinal, You meant to keep me from attending balls, But it appears I am to dance again.
The pleasant thing that life is!
[_To The Jailer.
_] When, my friend?
THE JAILER.
To-night, as soon as it is dark.
SAVERNY.
My faith!
I shall be charmed to leave these quarters.
Whence Comes this assistance?
THE JAILER.
Marquis de Nangis.
SAVERNY.
My good old uncle!
[_To The Jailer.
_] 'Tis for both, I hope!
THE JAILER.
I can save only one!
SAVERNY.
For twice as much?
THE JAILER.
I can save only one!
SAVERNY (_tossing his head_).
Just one?
[_Low to The Jailer.
_] Then listen;
Good jailer, that's the one to save!
[_Indicating Didier.
_ THE JAILER.
You jest!
SAVERNY.
I do not!
He's the one!
THE JAILER.
What an idea!
Your uncle wants to save you, not save him.
SAVERNY.
It's settled?
Then prepare two shrouds at once.
[_Turns his back on The Jailer, who goes out, astonished.
A
Registrar enters.
_ We can't be left alone an instant--strange!
REGISTRAR (_saluting the prisoners_).
The royal councilor of the Great Chamber Is close at hand.
[_Salutes them again and exits.
_ SAVERNY.
'Tis well!
[_Laughing.
_ Annoying luck!
Twenty years old--September--and to die Before October!
DIDIER (_motionless at front of stage, holding the portrait in his hand, and as if absorbed in a deep study of it_).
Come, look at me well!
Eyes in my eyes: thus.
You are beautiful!
What radiant grace!
Hardly a woman, you!
No: much more like an angel.
God Himself When He formed that divinely honest look Put much fire in it but more chastity.
That childish mouth, pushed open by sweet hopes, Throbs with its innocence.
[_Throwing the portrait violently to the ground.
_ Why did that peasant Take me unto her breast?
Why not have dashed My head against the stones?
What did I do Unto my mother to be cursed with birth?
Why, in that misery, it may be crime, Which forced her to abandon her own blood, Had she not motherhood enough to choke Me in her arms?
SAVERNY (_returning from back of court_).
The swallows fly quite low;
'Twill rain to-night.
DIDIER (_without hearing him_).
A faithless, a mad thing, A woman is: inconstant, cruel, deep, And turbulent as is the ocean.
Ah, Upon that sea I trusted all my fortune!
In all the vast horizon saw one star!
Well!
I am shipwrecked!
Nothing's left but death.
Yet I was born good-hearted: might have found The spark divine within me by-and-by.
Fair looked the future!
Oh, remorseless woman, Did you not shrink in face of such a lie, Since to your mercy I trusted my soul?
SAVERNY.
Forever Marion!
You've strange ideas About her!
DIDIER (_without heeding him, picks up the picture and fixes his eyes upon it_).
Down 'mongst the degraded things I must throw you, oh, woman who betrays!
A demon, with eyes touched by angels' wings.
[_Puts it back into his breast.
_ Come back; here is your place!
[_Approaching Saverny.
_] A curious thing!
That portrait is alive; I do not jest.
While you were sleeping there so peacefully It gnawed my heart all night.
SAVERNY.
Alas!
poor friend.
We'll talk of death.
[_Aside.
_] It comforts him, although I find it rather sad.
DIDIER.
What did you say?
I have not listened.
Since I heard that name I have been stupefied.
I cannot think: I can't remember, cannot hear nor see!
SAVERNY (_taking hold of his arm_).
Death, friend!
DIDIER (_joyfully_).
Oh, yes!
SAVERNY.
Let's talk about it.
DIDIER.
Yes!
SAVERNY.
What is it, after all?
DIDIER.
Did you sleep well Last night?
SAVERNY.
No, badly, for my bed was hard.
DIDIER.
When you are dead, your bed will be much harder, But you will sleep extremely well--that's all.
They've made hell splendidly; but by the side Of life, it's nothing.
SAVERNY.
Good!
My fears are gone!
But to be hanged!
That certainly is bad.
