MADAME DESCHAP. And what's to become of Pauline? Am I not to be mother to a princess, after all? (Enter Pauline and M. Deschappelles.) PAULINE (throwing herself into Melnotte's arms). BEAUSEANT. Not a moment is to be wasted. MONS. DESCHAP. I will go to the magistrates and inquire BEAUSEANT. Then he is lost; the magistrates, hearing he is suspected, will order his arrest. MADAME DESCHAP. And I shall not be princess dowager! BEAUSEANT. Why not? There is only one thing to be done : send for the priest; let the marriage take place at once, and the prince carry home a bride! MELNOTTE. Impossible! (Aside) Villain! I know not what I say. MADAME DESCHAP. What, lose my child? BEAUSEANT. And gain a princess! MADAME DESCHAP. Oh, Monsieur Beauseant, you are so very kind; it E must be so; we ought not to be selfish; my daughter's happiness is at stake. She will go away, too, in a carriage and six ! PAULINE. Thou art here still; I cannot part from thee; my heart will break. MELNOTTE. But thou wilt not consent to this hasty union; thou wilt not wed an outcast, a fugitive! PAULINE. Ah! if thou art in danger, who should share it but Pauline? MELNOTTE (aside). Distraction! If the earth could swallow me! MONS. DESCHAP. Gently! gently! The settlements, the contracts, my daughter's dowry! MELNOTTE. The dowry! I am not base enough for that; no, not one farthing! BEAUSEANT (to madame). Noble fellow! Really, your good husband is too mercantile in these matters. Monsieur Deschappelles, you hear his highness; we can arrange the settlements by proxy; 'tis the way with people of quality. MONS. DESCHAP. But MADAME DESCHAP. Hold your tongue! Don't expose yourself! BEAUSEANT. I will bring the priest in a trice. Go in all of you and prepare; the carriage shall be at the door before the ceremony is over. MADAME DESCHAP. Be sure there are six horses, Beauseant! You are very good to have forgiven us for refusing you; but, you see, a prince BEAUSEANT. And such a prince! Madame, I cannot blush at the success of so illustrious a rival. (Aside) Now will I follow them to the village, enjoy my triumph; and tomorrow, in the hour of thy shame and grief, I think, proud girl, thou wilt prefer even these arms to those of the gardener's son. [Exit Beauseant. MADAME DESCHAP. Come, Monsieur Deschappelles, give your arm to her highness that is to be. MONS. DESCHAP. I don't like doing business in such a hurry; 'tis not the way with the house of Deschappelles and Co. MADAME DESCHAP. There, now, you fancy you are in the counting-house; don't you? (pushes him to Pauline). MELNOTTE. Stay, stay, Pauline; one word. Have you no scruple, no fear? Speak; it is not yet too late. PAULINE. When I loved thee, thy fate became mine. Triumph or danger, joy or sorrow, I am by thy side. DAMAS. Well, well, prince, thou art a lucky man to be so loved. She is a good little girl in spite of her foibles; make her as happy as if she were not to be a princess (slapping him on the shoulder). Come, sir, I wish you joy, young, tender, lovely; zounds, I envy you! MELNOTTE (who has stood apart in gloomy abstraction). DO YOU ?* ACT III. SCENE I. The exterior of the Golden Lion; time, twilight. The moon rises during the scene. (Enter landlord and his daughter from the inn.) LANDLORD. Our His car Ha ha ha! Well, I never shall get over it. Claude is a prince with a vengeance now. riage breaks down at my inn; ha! ha! JANET. And what airs the young lady gives herself! "Is * On the stage the following lines are added: Do you? Wise judges are we of each other. Woo, wed, and bear her home!" So runs the bond To which I sold myself; and then, what then? Away! I will not look beyond the hour. Like children in the dark, I dare not face The shades that gather round me in the distance. this the best room you have, young woman?" with such a toss of the head! LANDLORD. Well, get in, Janet; get in and see to the supper: the servants must sup before they go back. [Exeunt landlord and Janet. (Enter Beauseant and Glavis.) BEAUSEANT. You see our princess is lodged at last; one stage more, and she'll be at her journey's end, the beautiful palace at the foot of the Alps! ha! ha! GLAVIS. Faith, I pity the poor Pauline, especially if she's going to sup at the Golden Lion (makes a wry face). I shall never forget that cursed ragout. (Enter Melnotte from the inn.) BEAUSEANT. Your servant, my prince; you reigned most worthily. I condole with you on your abdication. I am afraid that your highness's retinue are not very faithful servants. I think they will leave you in the moment of your fall; 'tis the fate of greatness. But you are welcome to your fine clothes; also the diamond snuffbox which Louis XIV. gave to your great-great-grandmother. GLAVIS. And the ring with which your grandfather the Doge of Venice married the Adriatic. MELNOTTE. I have kept my oath, gentlemen; say, have I kept my oath? |