The Dramas of Victor Hugo: Mary Tudor, Marion de Lorme, Esmeralda Part 53

To fight a duel 'neath the very light Of the edict is bold indeed!

[_To Didier._] Give up Your sword.

[_The Archers seize Didier, who stands apart, and disarm him. The Captain indicates Saverny stretched upon the ground and surrounded by the n.o.blemen._

That other man with dull eyes, who Is he? What is his name?

BRICHANTEAU.

His name's Gaspard, Marquis de Saverny, and he is dead.

CAPTAIN OF THE DISTRICT.

Dead, is he? Then his trouble's over. Good!

This dead man's worth more than the other.

MARION (_frightened_).

What!

CAPTAIN OF THE DISTRICT (_to Didier_).

The whole affair rests now with you, sir. Come!

[_The Archers lead Didier off on one side, the n.o.blemen carry Saverny off on the other._

DIDIER (_to Marion, who is motionless from horror_).

Forget me, Marion. Good-by! [_They exit._

SCENE V

Marion, L'Angely

MARION (_rus.h.i.+ng to detain him_).

Didier!

What do you mean? Good-by? Why this good-by?

Wherefore forget you?

[_The Soldiers push her off; she approaches L'Angely with anguish._

Is he lost for this?

What did he do? What will they do to him?

L'ANGELY (_takes her hand and leads her in silence before the edict_).

Read this!

MARION (_reads, and starts back with horror_).

My G.o.d! Just G.o.d! Condemned to death!

They've taken him away. To kill him! Oh, I brought this ruin on him with my cries!

I called for help, but my unhappy voice Found death in the dark streets and brought her here.

Impossible! A duel is no crime! [_To L'Angely._ They'll not kill him for that?

L'ANGELY.

I think they will.

MARION.

He can escape!

L'ANGELY.

The prison walls are high!

MARION.

I've brought this crime upon him with my sins.

G.o.d strikes him for my sake! My Didier! love!

[_To L'Angely._] Nothing on earth seemed good enough for him!

A prison cell--my G.o.d! Death! Torture too!

L'ANGELY.

Perhaps! It all depends--

MARION.

I'll find the King!

He has a royal heart; he pardons.

L'ANGELY.

Yes, The King does, not the Cardinal.

MARION.

Then, what-- What can I do?

L'ANGELY.

A capital offense, Nothing can save him from the fatal rope.

MARION.

Oh, grief!