[_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. G.o.d Himself When He formed that divinely honest look Put much fire in it but more chast.i.ty.

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.