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penalties of your ambition, will you resume a life of honest independence-will you atone, in the new world, for your errors in the old ?

Lock. (Rising and falling on Ryland's shoulder.) Mark! (Mary runs forward.)

Lock. (Turning quickly, and embracing her.) Mary! (Derby comes from door hastily.)

Der. Now, Lockwood, have you done it?

Lock. (Taking the hand of Mary, and of Ryland, and pressing them to his heart.) You have come too late, sir; I am once more an honest man.

(The Curtain falls.)

XXXII.-FROM THE FOUNDLING OF THE FOREST.Dimond.

COUNT DE VALMONT-BARON LONGUEVILLE-FLORIAN, THE FOUNDLING-BERTRAND, VALET TO LONGUEVILLE-L'CLAIR, VALET TO FLORIAN-GASPARD, AN OLD DOMESTIC-SANGUINE AND LENOIR, BRAVOES IN THE PAY OF LONGUEVILLE-GERALDINE, NIECE TO DE VALMONT-ROSABELLE, HER WOMAN-MONICA, AN OLD FEMALE PEASANT-EUGENIA, THE UNKNOWN FEMALE -DOMESTICS-PEASANTS.

Scene 1.-A Hall in the Chateau de Valmont.

(Enter Bertrand, in agitation, followed by Longueville.) Bertrand. Forbear, my lord!

Longueville. Hypocrite! has your hand been exercised thu long in blood

Bert. My lord: remember

Long. Yes, villain! You too, had best remember a solemn oath!

Bert. (Shuddering.) Ay, ay! it was an oath of horror! Well, then the brave, kind-hearted Florian-yes-he dies! Long. Then only may your master be esteemed to live. Bert. But whence this hatred to an unoffending youth? Long. Fool!

Bert. Can nothing but his blood appease your enmity? Long. Nothing: 'tis for Florian, De Valmont's heiress is reserved, with those estates for which my impatient soul has paid a dreadful earnest!

1

Bert. Fatal avarice! For those did the sacrificed Eugenia

Long. Wretch! dare not repeat that name! Mark me! this night, Florian returns-two of my trusty blood-hounds watch the road—I command your presence, too. (Exit.) Bert. Miserable man!

(Enter Rosabelle, behind, who taps his shoulder.)

Rosabelle. Mr. Bertrand!

Bert. (Starting.) Ah! Rosabelle

Ros. Why, Mr. Bertrand, I fear me you are ill.
Bert. Oh, no-I am well-quite well-never better.
Ros. Then you are out of spirits.

Bert. You mistake-I am all happiness-ha! ha! all joy! Ros. Ah! because chevalier Florian returns-oh! to see him once again in safety

Bert. (Involuntarily.) Ah! would to heaven we might! Ros. Can there be any doubt ?-Surely, you are weeping! Bert. No, 'tis a momentary pain. At night, Rosabelle, you shall see me jovial-we'll dance together-aye, and singthen-ha! ha ha! (Exit.)

Ros. What new spleen has bewitched the man?
Geraldine. (Without.) Rosabelle.

Ros. Here, my lady-in the hall.

(Enter Geraldine.).

Ger. Girl! here, remove these knots-I hate their fashion. Ros. Yet they are the same your ladyship commended yesterday.

Ger. Then 'tis the color of my 1

I look so ill before.

robe offends me-never did

Ros. Now, in my poor judgment, you rarely have looked better.

Ger. Out, simpleton !

Ros. Your charms will shine bright enough, lady, to dazzle a soldier's eye.

Ger. Ah! no, Rosabelle-Florian's traveled eyes will despise the wild, untutored Geraldine.

Ros. What! my own beautiful and high-born mistressdespised by a foundling

Ger. Hush! the mystery of Florian's birth is his misfortune, but cannot be his reproach. The brave man's laurel blooms with as fresh an honor in the poor peasant's cap, as when it circles princely brows.

Ros. I confess the chevalier is a proper gallant for any woman. Ay, and so is the chevalier's man.

Ger. Girl, if from the turret-top, at distance, you espy the hastening travelers, turn, swift as thought, and call me to partake your watch! (Exit.)

Ros. I'm sure I shall know L'Clair a mile off, by the saucy toss of his head.

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(Enter De Valmont, who rings violently.-Enter Gaspard.) De Val. So! am I heard! old man? To what strange dwelling have I been borne while sleeping?

Gas. Alack! your lordship is in your own fair castle.

De Val. You tell me wonders!-Knave! drive the rabble from my gate.

Gas. Well-a-day! who could have foreseen this anger? My good lord! 'tis but your tenantry_rejoicing

De Val. Ungenerous wretches! I am miserable! Quick! quick! drive them from my gate. (Stamping.)

Gas. (Frightened.) I am gone, my lord! I am gone. De Val. Hold! Do not dismiss them harshly-I would have them indulge their gayety, but I cannot bear to hear it.

Gas. My beloved master! (Exit.)

De Val. All hearts rejoicing-every peasant!-their lord alone devoted to despair! Well, well! your own appointed hour, just heaven!

young

(Re-enter Gaspard.)

- Gas. I've sent them hence-mass, I had nigh forgottenmadam Geraldine waits to see your lordship. De Val. Admit her! (Exit Gaspard.) My gentle one! my desolate orphan maid!

(Enter Geraldine.)

Ger. (Embracing him.) Ah, my dear, dear uncle! Flo. rian returns to us-are not you happy, uncle ?

De Val. You, it seems, my Geraldine, are really happy; you love my adopted Florian.

Ger. Love! fie, uncle!

De Val. Suppose I should offer this Florian to you as a husband.

Ger. (Looking down.) I never presume to dispute my dear uncle's commands.

De Val. Little equivocator! do you not wish to become his wife?

Ger. Indeed, I never yet have asked my heart that question. De Val. But if Florian married any other woman, would you not hate the object of his preference ?

Ger. Ah, uncle, you have my secret.

De Val. My excellent, ingenuous child! Florian and Ger. aldine are destined for each other!

Ger. Dear, dear uncle! what delightful visions your words conjure up to my imagination.

De Val. Enthusiast! you contemplate the ocean in a calm, nor dream how frightfully a tempest may reverse the picture. Ger. Ambitious pride may tremble at the storm, but true love, uncle, never can be wrecked.

De Val. (With agitation.) Girl, girl! wouldst thou find happiness-die! seek it in the grave-ah, dear loved objects of my soul! what are ye now? ashes--ashes! my brain's on fire! (Rushes out.)

Ger. Uncle! listen to your Geraldine!

(De Valmont suddenly returns, and embraces Geraldine.) De Val. Geraldine! dear child, forgive me! oh! pity and forgive the infirmities of grief.

Ger. Ah, sir! (Attempts to kneel.)

De Val. (Preventing her, and kissing her forehead.) Bless

you, my innocent child! My happiness is lost forever, but I can pray for yours. (Breaks from her and exit.)

Ger. My dear, loved uncle!

(Enter Rosabelle.)

Ros. Oh, my lady, such news; he's arrived, he's in the hall. Ger. My Florian?

Ros. No, lady, not your Florian; but my L'Clair.

L'Clair. (Without.) Here's a set of rascals! No discipline!

(Enter L'Clair.)

Your ladyship's devoted servant, ever in the foremost rank! Ger. You are welcome from the wars; L'Clair, fame has spoken of you, in your absence.

L'C. Fie! my lady, you disorder me at the first charge. Ger. Your master, L'Clair, where is he?

L'C. Ah! poor gentleman, he's in the rear guard; but he will arrive before midnight.

Ger. Midnight! so late? and the sky seeming to predict a tempest.

L'C. Why, as your ladyship remarks, the clouds are making a sort of forced march: but a storm is the mere trifling of nature, in a soldier's estimation.

Ger. You have often been employed upon dangerous service, L'Clair?

L'C. Hey, I protest, your ladyship must excuse me there : a man has so much the appearance of boasting, when he becomes the reporter of his own achievements; I beg leave to refer your ladyship to the gazettes.

Ger. Ha ha! your delicacy shall be respected, L'Clair; Rosabelle, be it your care to make the defender of his country welcome. At midnight! Oh, hasten on your flight, darkwinged hours! (Exit.)

LC. There, you hear, young woman! you are to make the defender of his country welcome.

Ros.

L'C.
Ros.

I'll do my best-what service can I lend you first?
Dress my wounds.

Wounds! gramercy! I never should have guessed you had any.

L'C. Deep, desperate,-here! (Pressing his heart.) Here, Rosabelle! "Tis an old hurt. Must I expire? Rosabelle, prithee, be my surgeon.

Ros. Well! what salve will you try first?

L'C. Lip salve, you gipsey! (Kisses her.)

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