DE MAUPRAT.

You're lucky! Still, were we a story higher,
'Twere prudent not to go too near the window.

JULIE.

Adrien, what have I done? Say, am I changed
Since yesterday? Or was it but for wealth,
Ambition, life-that-that-you swore you loved me?

I do think that this weather is delightful!
A charming day! the sky is so serene!

And what a prospect! (to De Beringhen) Oh! you

popinjay!

JULIE.

He jests at me! he mocks me! yet I love him,'
And every look becomes the lips we love!
Perhaps I am too grave? You laugh at Julie;
If laughter please you, welcome be the music!
Only say, Adrien, that you love me.

DE MAUPRAT (kissing her hand).

With my whole heart I love you!

Ay;

Now, sir, go,

And tell that to his majesty! Who ever
Heard of its being a state offence to kiss
The hand of one's own wife?

JULIE.

He says he loves me,

And starts away, as if to say "I love you"

Meant something very dreadful. Come, sit by me;
I place your chair! fy on your gallantry!

(They sit down; as he pushes his chair back, she draws

hers nearer.)

JULIE.

Why must this strange Messire de Beringhen
Be always here? He never takes a hint.
Do you not wish him gone?

DE MAUPRAT.

Upon my soul

I do, my Julie ! Send him for your bouquet,
Your glove, your anything.

JULIE.

Messire de Beringhen, I dropp'd my glove in the gardens by the fountain, Or the alcove, or-stay-no, by the statue

Of Cupid; may I ask you to

DE BERINGHEN.

To send for it?

Certainly (ringing a bell on the table). Andrè, Pierre (your rascals, how

Do ye call them?)

Enter servants.

Ah-madame has dropp'd her glove
In the gardens, by the fountain, or the alcove;
Or-stay-no, by the statue-eh? of Cupid.

Bring it.

DE MAUPRAT.

Did ever now one pair of shoulders
Carry such wagon-loads of impudence
Into a gentleman's drawing-room?

Dear Julie,

I'm busy-letters-visiters-the devil!

I do beseech you leave me; I say, leave me.

You are unkind.

JULIE (weeping).

[Exit. (As she goes out, Mauprat drops on one knee and kisses the hem of her mantle, unseen by her.)

DE BERINGHEN.

Ten million of apologies

DE MAUPRAT.

I'll not take one of them. I have, as yet,
Withstood all things; my heart, my love,
But Julie's tears! When is this farce to end?

DE BERINGHEN.

my rights.

Oh! when you please. His majesty requests me,
As soon as you infringe his gracious orders,
To introduce you to the governor

Of the Bastile. I should have had that honour
Before, but, gad, my foible is good nature;
One can't be hard upon a friend's infirmities.

DE MAUPRAT.

I know the king can send me to the scaffold;
Dark prospect! but I'm used to it; and if
The church and council, by this hour to-morrow,
One way or other settle not the matter,
I will-

DE BERINGHEN.

What, my dear sir?

DE MAUPRAT.

Show you the door,

My dear, dear sir; talk as I please, with whom
I please, in my own house, dear sir, until
His majesty shall condescend to find

A stouter gentleman than you, dear sir,
To take me out; and now you understand me,
My dear, most dear, oh, damnably dear sir!

DE BERINGHEN.

What, almost in a passion! you will cool
Upon reflection. Well, since madame's absent,
I'll take a small refreshment. Now, don't stir;
Be careful; how's your Burgundy? I'll taste it ;
Finish it all before I leave you. Nay,

No form; you see I make myself at home.

[Exit De Beringhen. DE MAUPRAT (going to the door through which Baradas had

Baradas! count!

passed).

Enter Baradas.

You spoke of snares, of vengeance

Sharper than death; be plainer.

BARADAS.

What so clear?

Richelieu has but two passions

DE MAUPRAT.

Richelieu!

BARADAS.

Yes!

Ambiton and revenge; in you both blended.
First for ambition: Julie is his ward;
Innocent, docile, pliant to his will,

He placed her at the court, foresaw the rest:
The king loves Julie!

DE MAUPRAT.

Merciful Heaven! The king!

BARADAS.

Such Cupids lend new plumes to Richelieu's wings;
But the court etiquette must give such Cupids
The veil of Hymen (Hymen but in name).
He look'd abroad, found you his foe: thus served
Ambition by the grandeur of his ward,

And vengeance by dishonour to his foe!

DE MAUPRAT.

Prove this.

BARADAS.

You have the proof, the royal letter: Your strange exemption from the general pardon, Known but to me and Richelieu; can you doubt Your friend to acquit your foe? The truth is glaring; Richelieu alone could tell the princely lover

The tale which sells your life, or buys your honour!

DE MAUPRAT.

I see it all! Mock pardon, hurried nuptials,
False bounty! all! the serpent of that smile!
Oh! it stings home!

BARADAS.

You yet shall crush his malice;

Our plans are sure: Orleans is at our head;
We meet to-night; join us, and with us triumph.

DE MAUPRAT.

To-night? Oh Heaven! my marriage night! Revenge!

BARADAS.

What class of men, whose white lips do not curse*
[The grim, insatiate, universal tyrant?

We, noble-born, where are our antique rights,
Our feudal seignories, out castled strength,
That did divide us from the base plebeians,

And made our swords our law? where are they? trod
To dust; and o'er the graves of our dead power
Scaffolds are monuments; the kingly house
Shorn of its beams, the royal sun of France
'Clipsed by this blood-red comet. Where we turn,
Nothing but Richelieu! Armies, church, state, laws,
But mirrors that do multiply his beams.
He sees all, acts all-Argus and Briaræus-
Spy at our boards, and deathsman at our hearths,
Under the venom of one laidley nightshade,
Wither the lilies of all France.

DE MAUPRAT (impatiently).

But Julie

BARADAS (unheeding him).

As yet the fiend that serves hath saved his power
From every snare; and in the epitaphs

Of many victims dwells a warning moral
That preaches caution. Were I not assured
That what before was hope is ripen'd now
Into most certain safety, trust me, Mauprat,
I still could hush my hate and mark thy wrongs,
And say "Be patient!" Now the king himself
Smiles kindly when I tell him that his peers
Will rid him of his priest. You knit your brows,
Noble impatience! Pass we to our scheme !]
'Tis Richelieu's wont, each morn, within his chapel
(Hypocrite worship ended), to dispense

* That in brackets omitted in representation.