The Dramas of Victor Hugo: Mary Tudor, Marion de Lorme, Esmeralda Part 24

SCENE III

_A Jailer enters with caution, then ushers in Lady Jane._

THE JAILER.

You are where you wished to be, my lady. Here are the doors to the two cells. My recompense, now, if you please.

[_Jane unfastens her diamond bracelet and gives it to him._

JANE.

There it is.

THE JAILER.

Thanks. Don't compromise me.

[_He goes out._

JANE (_alone_).

Kind Heaven! What shall I do? It is I who have destroyed him. I must be the one to save him! I can never do it, never! A woman can do nothing! The scaffold-- The scaffold! Oh, it is horrible! Come, no more tears; let us have action! I never can do it! I never can do it!

Have mercy on me, my G.o.d! I think some one is coming. Whose voice is that? I recognize it. It is the Queen's voice! Ah, all is lost!

[_She hides behind a pillar. The Queen and Simon Renard enter._

SCENE IV

_The Queen; Simon Renard; Jane, concealed_

THE QUEEN.

Ah, the change surprises you? I am no longer myself? Well, what does that matter to me? It is the truth! I don't want him to die--now!

SIMON RENARD.

Yet yesterday, your Majesty ordered the execution to take place to-day.

THE QUEEN.

As I ordered the day before, that the execution should take place yesterday. As I ordered Sunday that the execution should take place Monday. To-day I ordered the execution to take place to-morrow.

SIMON RENARD.

As a matter of fact, since the second Sunday in Advent, when the decision was p.r.o.nounced in the Star Chamber, and the two criminals came back to the Tower preceded by the executioner with the ax turned toward them--and that was three weeks ago--every day since then your Majesty has put the matter off until to-morrow.

THE QUEEN.

Well, can't you understand what that means, sir? Must I explain everything, and must a woman be forced to show her naked heart to you, because she is a Queen--unfortunate woman that she is--and because you represent the Prince of Spain, her future husband? You don't understand, you men, that with a woman the heart has its chast.i.ty as well as the body. Well, then, yes--since you want to know, since you make believe that you don't understand anything--yes, every day I put off Fabiani's execution until to-morrow, because every morning my courage fails me when I think that the bell of the Tower of London will ring out his death-knell; because to think they are sharpening an ax for that man, breaks my heart; because it kills me to think they will nail a coffin over him; because I am a woman, because I am weak, because I am insane, because I love him yet, my G.o.d! There! have you got enough? Are you satisfied? Do you understand now? Oh, some day, my lord, I will have my revenge on you, for all these things you have made me tell you!

SIMON RENARD.

Yet it ought to be about time to get through with this Fabiani! You expect to marry my royal master, the Prince of Spain, madame!

THE QUEEN.

If the Prince of Spain is not satisfied, let him say so; we will marry somebody else. Suitors are not lacking. The son of the King of the Romans, the Prince of Piedmont, the Infante of Portugal, Cardinal Polus, the King of Denmark, and Lord Courtenay are as good n.o.blemen as he!

SIMON RENARD.

Lord Courtenay! Lord Courtenay!

THE QUEEN.

An English baron is worth a Spanish prince, my lord. Besides, Lord Courtenay is descended from the emperors of the East. Oh, get mad if you like!

SIMON RENARD.

Fabiani has made himself hated by every one in London who has got a heart.

THE QUEEN.

Except by me!

SIMON RENARD.

Peasants and lords are united against him, and if he is not executed this very day, as your Majesty has promised--

THE QUEEN.

Well!

SIMON RENARD.

There will be an uprising among the people.

THE QUEEN.

I've got my lansquenets.

SIMON RENARD.

There will be a conspiracy among the n.o.bles.

THE QUEEN.