JANE.
I will not hush! Do you want me to tell you what I"m thinking of now?
I don"t believe the man who is going to die out there is my Gilbert.
THE QUEEN.
What are you saying?
JANE.
I don"t know, but I saw him pa.s.s by under that black veil; and if it had been my Gilbert, something would have stirred in me, something would have roused itself in my heart, and would have cried out to me, "Gilbert--it is Gilbert." But I felt nothing at all; it is not Gilbert.
THE QUEEN.
What are you saying? Ah, my G.o.d! you are crazy. What you have said is idiotic, but it terrifies me just the same. Ah, you have roused one of the secret terrors of my own heart! Why did that riot prevent me from looking after him myself? Why did I intrust to any one but myself the safety of my Fabiano? Eneas Dulverton is a traitor.
Perhaps Simon Renard was there. What if I have been betrayed a second time by Fabiano"s enemies? What if it is Fabiano himself? What, ho!
quick--some one--come--some one!
[_Two Jailers appear._
[_To the first._] You--run! Here is my royal signet. Tell them to suspend the execution. To the old Market-Place; to the old Market-Place! There is a shorter way, you said, Jane.
JANE.
By the wharf.
THE QUEEN (_to Jailer_).
By the wharf. A horse--go quick!
[_The Jailer goes out._
[_To the second Jailer._] You--go at once to Edward the Confessor"s Tower. The two cells of the condemned criminals are there. There is a man in one of them. Bring him here at once.
[_The Jailer goes out._
I tremble; my knees sink under me; I have not strength enough to go myself. Ah, you have made me as mad as yourself! Miserable girl, you have made me as wretched as yourself. I curse you as you cursed me.
My G.o.d, will the man get there in time? What a torturing anxiety! I can"t see anything more. All is trouble in my soul. Does the bell toll yet? Is it for Gilbert? Is it for Fabiano?
JANE.
The bell ceases.
THE QUEEN.
Then the procession is on the place for the execution. Will the man get there in time?
[_A cannon-shot is heard._
JANE.
Heaven!
THE QUEEN.
He is ascending the scaffold! [_Second cannon._ He is kneeling!
JANE.
It is horrible! [_Third cannon._
BOTH.
Ah!
THE QUEEN.
There is only one alive now. In a moment we will know which one. My G.o.d, let the man who comes in be Fabiano!
JANE.
My G.o.d, let it be Gilbert!
[_The curtain at the back opens. Simon Renard appears, holding Gilbert by the hand._
Gilbert! [_They rush into each other"s arms._
THE QUEEN.
And Fabiano?
SIMON RENARD.
Dead.
THE QUEEN.
Dead! Dead! Who has dared--
SIMON RENARD.
I have dared. I have saved the Queen of England.
MARION DE LORME